five minutes after one
The boiling wind surged over the hot dust and smote him witheringly . The driven sand almost suffocated him . It was twenty-five miles at least to the river , twenty more to possible assistance . He looked at his watch -- it was five minutes after one . Six hours before the sun would set , and until then walking would be suicide . He climbed back into the machine , and sank limply into the shaded corner of the seat . Six hours of this -- it would be torture ; and there would be one long night of walking to reach water ; another day of waiting for night -- without food -- and again a long , staggering walk before they reached a human habitation .