nine o'clock
` Try and find something where I can help , ' he pleaded . ` I 'm pretty strong still , though I 'm lame , and I can shoot a bit . ' I declared that he would be used in time , that Blenkiron had promised he would be used , but for the life of me I could n't see how . At nine o'clock on the evening appointed I was on the lake opposite the house , close in under the shore , making my way to the rendezvous . It was a coal-black night , for though the air was clear the stars were shining with little light , and the moon had not yet risen . With a premonition that I might be long away from food , I had brought some slabs of chocolate , and my pistol and torch were in my pocket . It was bitter cold , but I had ceased to mind weather , and I wore my one suit and no overcoat .