the hour of eight
He came to troop headquarters after supper with a queer , nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach . Outside , the Eagles were making one last hurried practice of the business of making a coat stretcher . Tim wished he could do a little practicing , too ; but when he went inside and joined his patrol , he shrank from asking Andy and Bobbie to work with him . The hands of the clock crept around to the hour of eight . The Eagles came inside . Mr. Wall called the patrol leaders . `` We do n't want any lagging or fooling , '' he announced .