nine o'clock
Then when they felt quite safe they grasped the bushes , and speedily climbed the bank . Looking back at the castle they saw lights still burning there . Short as was the time they had been in the water they were both chilled to the bone , for it was the month of February , and the water was bitterly cold . `` It can not be more than nine o'clock now , '' Walter said , `` for it is not more than four hours since darkness fell . They are not likely to visit the dungeon before eight or nine tomorrow , so we can rely upon twelve hours ' start , and if we make the best of our time we ought to be far on travelling on a night like this through a strange country . I would that the stars were shining . However , the direction of the wind and rain will be a guide to us , and we shall soon strike the road we traveled yesterday , and can follow that till morning . ''