a quarter to twelve
Corporal Coffey and eight men leave here at 10.15 P.M. `` JAMES MULLIGAN , _ Sergeant _ . '' `` Come here , little doggie , '' said Sergeant Cunningham . `` If we get out of this , the company shall pay for a silver collar and a medal of honor for the finest dog in the army . '' `` If that detail marches at the regulation gait of three miles an hour , '' I said , `` it should be here by a quarter-past one , and it is now a quarter to twelve . '' My anxiety over our prospects was so great I neglected to show proper gratitude to our devoted messenger . `` The men will do better than that , sir , if they keep on the road . The trouble will be in finding this trail .