the hour of
seven
`` At that moment Herrick suddenly spoke , at first huskily and then in a loud , clear voice , shouting , ` Yes , yes , I hear you ; I am awake . ' Then he sat up , asking in a dazed way , ` Where am I ? What does this mean ? ' '' `` As he did so the old-fashioned clock in the hall struck the hour of seven . '' The queerest part of this story is suggested by a letter received from Dr. Morse the next day , which read as follows : DEAR WATSON : You asked me to write you about the injured man , and I do so now to tell you he is dead . He died a minute or two before seven o'clock last evening ; I know the hour exactly , because I was watching him at the time , and for some moments he had been whispering and muttering to himself , but all I could catch was something about , `` I withdraw my command ; '' when , suddenly raising himself , he shouted , `` Wake up , wake up ! '' and fell back dead just as the clock in the church-yard struck seven .