about ten o'clock
Paul led this latter group . He was boiling with indignation over the trick that had been played , for it promised to put the orderly scouts in bad odor with the custodian of the building , who had been so kind to them . The sexton , whose name was Peter Ostertag , usually lighted the gymnasium for them , and then went over to his own cottage near by . It was his usual habit to return at about ten o'clock , when the meeting disbanded , in order to put out the lights , and close the building . Perhaps he might even then be on his way across lots . What with the shouts of the excited scouts , rushing hither and thither ; together with some derisive laughter and cat calls from dark corners in the immediate vicinity , the scene certainly took on a lively turn . The bell had ceased to toll , though there still came a ringing , metallic hum from up in the tower .