eight o'clock
The glare of many searchlights made the track a glistening band of white around which circled the cars , themselves gemmed with white and crimson lamps . The cheers of the people as the lead was taken by one favorite or another , the hum of voices , the music and uproar of the machines blended into a web of sound indescribable . The spectacle was at once ultramodern and classic in antiquity of conception . At eight o'clock Lestrange came flying in , sent off the track to have a lamp relighted . `` Water , '' he demanded tersely , in the sixty seconds of the stop , and laughed openly at Dick 's expression while he took the cup . `` Why did n't you light it out there ? '' asked the novice , infected by the speed fever around him .