about ten o'clock
He took care of that , for , as he said to himself , `` If it is only a donkey who draws he must be well fed . '' With his sledge at his head , tilted on one side to make a sort of canopy , and a couple of blankets stretched over , tent fashion , upon some stout sticks close down to his face , the air was soon warmed by his breath , and thanks to the skin-lined bag he slept soundly each night , and by means of a little pot and a spirit-lamp contrived to obtain a cup of hot tea before starting on his journey in the morning . But it was the lamp of life , heated by the brave spirit within him , that helped him on with his load , so that after being disappointed in not covering the last eight miles over-night , he dragged the sledge up towards their hut just at dawn of the day which succeeded the attack made upon his companion . By dawn must be understood about ten o'clock , and as he drew near , Dallas could see a fire blazing here , and another there , at different shafts ; but there was no sign of glow or smoke from the fire in their own hut ; and in the joy that was within him at the successful termination of his expedition , Dallas laughed . `` The lazy beggar ! '' he said . `` Not stirring yet , and no fire .