ten minutes before
eight
Insist on her going . If you hear nothing from me still , make the first town and report . '' He mounted by a cross pinning to the insecure surface above ; and , picking his way to solid earth , waited . He struck a match and , covering the light with his palm , saw that it was ten minutes before eight . Millie , he had thought , would reach the wharf before the hour he had indicated . She would not at any cost be late . The night was impenetrable .