nearly ten o'clock
So Tom would be out of his house till eleven o'clock ! Such a chance might never occur again . Long John hastened home at once and got everything ready . As it would not do to start too early , because people might be about , John waited till nearly ten o'clock , and then sallied out . As he rounded the corner of his shack a furious blast of wind , driving the rain before it , almost knocked him over . `` Good ! '' he exclaimed .