nearly nine o'clock
`` We 've got to , have some sort o ' light , '' said Captain Jerry . `` If not , we may run afoul o ' some other craft . '' The time went by slowly , each hour seeming an age . Nobody felt like eating , and nothing was said about supper until nearly nine o'clock , when Dora opened the cabin door and called Dick : `` We thought we would get to shore before eating , '' she said . `` How much longer will we be out , do you think ? '' `` There is no telling , Dora , '' he replied evasively . `` No telling ?