fifteen minutes to ten
As Peter followed the coffin out , he saw the Knights and Ladies of Tabor lined up in marching order behind the van . The men held their spears and swords at attention ; the women carried flowers . Behind the marchers came other old vehicles , a sorry procession . At fifteen minutes to ten the bell in the steeple of the colored church tolled a single stroke . The sound quivered through the sunshine over Niggertown . At its signal the poor procession moved away through the dust . At intervals the bell tolled after the vanishing train .