about half after ten
`` Well , that 's just what I did , '' the farmer 's wife replied , thrilling the boys who had clustered around the doorway where she stood . `` Do you happen to know about what time it might have been ? '' asked Fred . `` Along about half after ten , I should say , '' she answered . Fred looked at his chums , inquiringly . `` Just to the dot , '' declared Bristles , `` Mebbe you remember that I said it was some time after ten when Colon broke away . Then we stood talkin ' at the gate a little bit ; and when he got this far on his mile dash up to the graveyard , it must have been close to the half hour .