"However, we'll come down as we said, and just see if anything happens." Three boys, at all events, did very little work that evening, for it was impossible to concentrate one's mind on Caesar or on French verbs with such an adventure looming in the near future.

How would the Philistines get at the fireworks?
Would they change their minds, and instead of drowning them apply a slow match and blow up the shed?
or would it, after all, turn out to be only a false alarm, raised by the boy Crump for the sake of the promised shilling?
These and other thoughts filled the minds of the trio as they sat frowning at the books in front of them.

The clock seemed to go slower and slower, until they really began to wonder whether it had stopped.
At length the long hand reached the half-past.

Mr.Blake yawned, put down his paper, and said, "Put away your work, and pass on to supper." Acton and Diggory, both tingling with excitement, lingered behind until the rest had left the room; then, when the coast was clear, they slipped out into the garden, and hurried down the sloping path.

It was considerably lighter than it had been before tea; the clouds had cleared away, and there were plenty of stars.
"Locked," muttered Acton, examining the shed.