midnight
Into the walls were driven pegs of wood , upon which the youths could hang their garments . The room was cold , almost icy , and it did not take Dave and Henry long to get into bed after they had made up their minds to retire . Having said their prayers , they huddled close together for warmth , covering themselves with blankets and a fur robe James Morris had brought from his trading-post . The wind had been gradually rising and by midnight it was blowing half a gale , whistling shrilly around the cabin and through the heavy boughs of the neighboring trees . The doors and shutters rattled and awakened Mrs. Morris , but the boys and men slept well , for the sounds were familiar ones . In the early morning came a change . The wind went down and there was a heavy fall of snow which kept up steadily for many hours .