a
quarter to ten
` I have called you gentlemen together , ' he says to his officer , ` in order to ask you to corporate with me . I shall fire some rockets from the slag heap to-night about ten o'clock . On the first of these signals the Germans will open a very heavy cannonade on our trenches . I 'll trouble you to have your men all in the dug-outs , and under cover at a quarter to ten ! ' `` That night , soon after the Colonel , Tommy and I started off for the slag heap in the dark , taking with us a bundle of rockets . My idea was at last going to be tested -- what do you think it was , Sir ? '' I discreetly pretended my utter inability to guess .