midnight
He will not think of us , and my -- my husband will do what he wishes . Do you understand ? '' `` Yes , ma'am . But we have until midnight , or after , and it 's just a little past two bells , now . Ten minutes more , ma'am , and I 'll have this hole open . '' But it took a little longer than ten minutes . Three bells struck while I was still whittling and digging at the caulking in the seams with my sheath knife .