ten minutes to ten
We , however , could do nothing ; we must sit still and wait . There is no greater trial for men than this . If we had had any work to do , we could have borne it much better . It wanted but ten minutes to ten . `` Some accident must have befallen your old shipmate , '' said Andrews ; `` if he does not come back , we must make the attempt without him . I marked well the entrance of the harbour . If we muffle our oars , and keep close under the fort , we may slip out without being observed .