midnight
Could you keep me from going ? Why , man , it 's the greatest adventure in history ! '' Milton grasped his hand , as did Lanier , and then the physicist shot a glance at the square clock on the wall . `` Well , there 's little enough time left us , '' he said , `` for we 've hardly an hour before midnight , and at midnight we must be in that transmitting chamber for Nelson to send us flashing out ! '' Randall could never recall but dimly afterward how that tense hour passed . It was an hour in which Milton and Nelson went with anxious faces and low-voiced comments from one to another of the pieces of apparatus in the room , inspecting each carefully , from the great dynamos to the transmitting and receiving chambers , while Lanier quickly got out and made ready the rough khaki suits and equipment they were to take . It lacked but a quarter-hour of midnight when they had finally donned those suits , each making sure that he was in possession of the small personal kit Milton had designated .