fifty-nine minutes after twelve
`` My heartiest congratulations , boys ! '' he exclaimed , as he received their paper . `` You have arrived just in the nick of time . Panama time , it is now exactly fifty-nine minutes after twelve ! '' They had won by one minute ! The flyers were so tickled that they also felt like cheering . But they were sobered instantly when Mr. Wrenn came forward and they saw how sorrowful he looked in spite of the brave smile with which he greeted them .