about three o'clock in the morning
The hours dragged along slowly ; Shafto , doubled up in a cramped position on a _ machan _ , felt painfully stiff and was obliged to deny himself the comfort of a cigarette . There was no sound beyond the bleat of the victim -- unwittingly summoning its executioner , the buzz of myriads of insects , the bass booming of frogs and the stealthy , mysterious movements of night birds and small animals . Then by degrees the moon waned and the stars faded -- though the sky was still light . It was about three o'clock in the morning and Shafto was beginning to agree with Roscoe respecting the tiger myth and to feel uncommonly drowsy , when his ear was struck by a far-away sound , entirely distinct from buzzing insects or booming frogs . The spot which had been thoughtfully selected by the trapper , was within a few hundred yards of a small cove , chosen as an inviting place for the tiger to come and slake his thirst . The distant sound came from this direction and , by degrees , a faint but definite pulsation grew more audible and distinct , and finally resolved itself , into the steady throbbing of a motor-launch . It was approaching .