five minutes to
four
And now , as if every one knew the time was getting short , the play became harder than ever . Many a time did I catch sight of my two Randlebury friends in the thick of the fight , sometimes hand to hand , sometimes separated by a living wall of humanity , but always doing their work , and straining for the one object . The time went on . The man who held me looked at me now oftener than he had done hitherto ; and presently , when I pointed to five minutes to four , he cried out to a player near him , `` Five minutes more . '' That player was Charlie Newcome , and I saw his face flush as of old , and knew he at any rate intended to make the most of the brief time remaining . But two of the minutes were gone before his chance came . Then there was a cry , and all eyes turned towards him , for there came the ball flying straight to where he stood .