eight
o'clock
Peter 's hatred of him grew more intense week by week ; some days after Mid-Term , it had swollen into a passion . He finally told Bobby Galleon one day at luncheon that on that very evening he was going to defy this Comber . Galleon besought him not to do this , pointing out Comber 's greater strength and the natural tendency of the Lower School to follow their leader blindly . Peter said nothing in reply but watched , when eight o'clock had struck and the Lower School had assembled in the class room , for his moment . It was a somewhat piteous spectacle . Comber and some half a dozen friends in the middle of the room , and forty boys ranging in years from eight to twelve , waiting with white faces and propitiatory smiles , eager to assist in the Torture if they only might themselves be spared . `` Now you chaps , '' this from Comber -- `` we 'll have a Gauntlet .