the hour of ten
`` Well , I guess I might as well try to get a little sleep , myself , '' he said loudly and walked to the other cot . A moment later the two boys listened to the sound of the guard 's footsteps outside and looked at the gradually fading light of day outside the dust and cobweb smeared window . _ Escape ! _ Somewhere in the distance a church clock tolled the hour of ten . Dave absently counted the strokes , and then slowly sat up on the army cot . All was pitch dark inside as well as outside . For a couple of minutes he sat perfectly still listening to the various sounds that came to him faintly .