five minutes to 10 o'clock
There were two other small squares to be spared for five minutes to provide for help which might have been gained from the refugees ' dugout . Those squares were being spared now , anyway . But the minutes of respite for all were finishing fast . It was five minutes to 10 o'clock and Chester , running bent over , stumbled and fell ; the frightful concussion of great high explosive shells , bursting close to him , shook and battered him . He hugged down into a hole , and from about his neck , he drew a flat bag , which held a gas mask ; he adjusted it quickly . Shells were striking about him , which did not break ; but from the butts of these fumes were floating . The Germans , showing in the light of the star-shells , had become snouted creatures in their gas helmets .