Hi<br/><br/>Could you please tell me which of the following sentences is more natural? Any other suggestion is welcome.<br/><br/><b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,0);">As the minutes stretched by</span>, the hope to find him alive faded.</b><br/><b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,0);">As minutes stretched by</span>, the hope to find him alive faded.</b><br/><br/>Thanks,<br/><br/>Tom