Ten o'clock
On this Friday night the midshipmen ran to their rooms as usual at the warning signal . Until the last minute of the allowed time there was to be heard the scurrying of hurried feet resounding through the corridors and a babble of shouting and laughter . Eight hundred midshipmen seemed to have something to say that could n't keep till the morrow . Ten o'clock came , and with it complete silence save for the measured tread of cadet officers going from room to room to see the occupants thereof were all in bed . And now sounded forth the clock , with its ominous tick-tock , as though it had been silent all day , and there came the oppressive silence which reigns each night after ten o'clock . So it was this Friday night . Four bells , indicating ten o'clock , were struck , the lights were put out and a solemn hush was upon the eight hundred occupants of Bancroft Hall .