six o'clock
And back and arms and shoulders ached together . He had hoped that they would quit work at five o'clock . Five o'clock came and went , and the red-headed man said no word of stopping . Half-past five , six o'clock . And still they tightened wires , hammered burning staples , dug endless post-holes . Conniston 's hands were torn with the sharp staples , blistered with the work . Half-past six , and he was ready to throw down his tools and quit .