seven o'clock
The minutes seemed to drag as if weighted down with stones . But the longest day has its end , and finally night came . Alarm clocks had been set for dawn , but in few cases were they needed , since the boys were up and doing before the gray had actually crept into the eastern heavens . At seven o'clock a crowd began to assemble in the vicinity of the boathouse from which the start was to be made ; for the race was the event of the season . Every boy in town was on the spot , and the constables had to keep the crowd from actually swarming over and swamping the busy contestants and their families . The three motor boats were ready in the water , with burgees flying and looking as spic and span as human energy could make them . The silver trophy was in the possession of Jack 's father , and had been admired by hundreds .