eight o'clock
Anderson Crow soon slept , but he did not dream of the tragedy the next night was to bring upon Tinkletown , nor of the test his prowess was to endure . The next night and the `` spellin ' - bee '' at school No. 5 came on apace together . It was bitterly cold and starlight . By eight o'clock the warm schoolhouse was comfortably filled with the `` spellers '' of the neighbourhood , their numbers increased by competitors from Tinkletown itself . In the crowd were men and women who time after time had `` spelled down '' whole companies , and who were eager for the conflict . They had `` studied up '' on their spelling for days in anticipation of a hard battle in the words . Mrs. Borum and Mrs. Cartwill , both famous for their victories and for the rivalry that existed between them , were selected as captains of the opposing sides , and Miss Banks herself was to `` give out '' the words .