nearly seven o'clock
`` I will come as soon as I can . If I am late , you will know that there are Germans about . '' Ralph 's idea of his capacity for sleep turned out correct . It was still dark when he woke but , striking a match , he found that it was nearly seven o'clock . He at once blew out the match , felt for the apple water , took a drink , and then nestled down deep into the fur coat . `` It will be getting light in another hour , '' he said to himself . `` It 's awfully cold , too ; but I am better off , here , than I should be in the field .