the gloves--to-morrow morning. Oh!"

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

"I say, isn't it time to get up?"

It was a low whisper in my ear, and I started into full wakefulness, to
find it was dark, and that Mercer was sitting on the edge of my bed,
while the other boys were snoring.

"What time is it?" was my first and natural question.

"I don't know. If I'd got old Eely's watch, I could have had it under
my pillow, and seen directly."

"No, you couldn't," I said grumpily, for I was sleepy and cross; "it's
too dark."

"Well, I could have run my finger over the hands, and told by the touch.
You see, I should have held the watch perfectly upright, and then the
twelve would have been by the handle, and I could have told directly."

"But you haven't got a watch, and so you don't know."

"No," he said, with a sigh, "I haven't got that watch. Old Eely's got
it--a nasty, consequential, bully dandy."

"Do go and lie down again," I said. "I am so sleepy!"

"What for? It's time to get up."

"It can't be; see how dark it is."

"Oh, that's only because it's a dark morning. Get up and dress, and
don't be so grumpy because I've woke you up."

"But I haven't had sleep enough," I grumbled, "and I don't believe it's
twelve o'clock yet. Look at the stars shining."

"Well, they always do shine, don't they? What's that got to do with
it?"

"But it isn't daylight, and we were not to go to Lomax till five."

"By the time we're washed and dressed, the sun will be up, and then
there won't be any waiting."

"Hark!" I said, for the turret clock, below the big bell, chimed.

One, two--three, four--five, six--seven, eight.

Then a long pause.

"Five o'clock," whispered Mercer.

_Chang_!

We waited as the stroke of the striking hammer rang out loudly, and we
could hear the vibration of the bell quivering in the air.

"Well, go on, stupid," said Mercer at last.

"Go on indeed!" I said angrily. "What's the good of coming and
disturbing a fellow like this? It's only one o'clock."

"Don't believe it. That clock's wrong. Now, if I had had a watch--"

"Bother the watch!--bother the clock!--bother you!" I cried. "If you
don't be off, I'll give you bolster."

"Oh, very well," he said. "But I couldn't sleep. It must be four,
though. I'll go and lie down for a bit longer."

He stole back to his bed, and, with a sigh of relief, I sank back into a
delicious nap, from which my tormentor roused me twice more, to declare