two in the morning
Besides , there was no doubt of the great humanizing effects of the invention , and the demand that it would awaken throughout the whole school . But an obstacle arose to even the deep-laid plans of Macnooder himself . As the Third Triumvirate Manufacturing Company had bought its stock from the Eureka Purchasing Company -- which had cornered the alarm-clock market -- it followed that the alarm clocks were distinctly second rate . The consequence was that , though all were set for half-past seven , the first gun went off at about quarter-past two in the morning , bringing Mr. Bundy , the assistant house master , to the middle of the floor in one terrified bound , and starting a giggle that ran the darkened house like an epidemic . At half-past three another explosion took place , aggravated this time by the fact that , the window pulleys being worn , the sash flew up with enough force to shatter most of the glass . At four o'clock , when three more went off in friendly conjunction , The Roman met Mr. Bundy in the hall in light marching costume , and made a few very forcible remarks on the duties of subordinates -- the same being accentuated by the wailing complaint of the youngest Roman which resounded through the house . From then on the musketry continued intermittently until half-past seven , when such a salvo went off that the walls of the house seemed jarred apart .