the hour of two
Gabriel glanced hopelessly at the group , which , with one or two exceptions , composed all the able-bodied men upon the farm . He saw at once that if the ricks were to be saved that night , or even the next morning , he must save them with his own hands . A faint `` ting-ting '' resounded from under Coggan 's waistcoat . It was Coggan 's watch striking the hour of two . Oak went to the recumbent form of Matthew Moon , who usually undertook the rough thatching of the home-stead , and shook him . The shaking was without effect . Gabriel shouted in his ear , `` where 's your thatching-beetle and rick-stick and spars ? ''