about nine
o’clock
It will save time to-morrow . '' `` Why should we not go to-night ? '' Joyce asked . `` It is only about nine o'clock now , and if we get the cocoa-nuts near here , we can make two or three journeys down to the boat with them , and be off before midnight . '' `` So we might , Tom . What do you say , Wilcox ? '' `` The sooner the better , says I , '' the sailor replied .