a quarter
to six
`` If we were the other side a man might possibly wrench himself way from our grasp , and might outrun us , but on this side of the gate he could n't do so ; for even if he did break away he would have to run back toward the village , the gate would stop his going the other way . '' Accordingly the young officers took their posts against the wall , one on either side of the gate , and with their swords drawn awaited the coming of a messenger to the Red Captain . `` There is no chance of any one being here for another twenty minutes , '' Desmond said . `` The sergeant will not rouse the men up till a quarter to six , therefore no one is likely to come along until within a few minutes of the hour . It 's precious cold here , though the wall does shelter us from the wind a bit ; still it 's not a lively job having to wait here half an hour , with the thermometer somewhere below freezing point . '' The time passed slowly . Occasionally they exchanged a few words in low tones , but as the time approached when they knew that the sergeant would be going his rounds to call the men they spoke less .