noon
They had soon reason to congratulate themselves on entering the more mountainous country , for here the game was much more abundant than it had been before . The dogs had by this time become attached to them , for Godfrey was fond of animals , and had petted them in a manner to which they were quite unaccustomed from their Ostjak masters . One of them especially , a young dog , had taken regularly to accompany Godfrey when hunting , and he found the animal of the greatest utility , as it was able to follow the back track with undeviating certainty . This was of importance , for there was but a short twilight each twenty-four hours , the sun being below the horizon except for an hour or two at noon , and they were obliged to carry torches while following the tracks of the smaller animals . Ermines were found in considerable numbers , and in the first week four fine sables were killed , as well as two martens and a bear ; the latter was specially prized . They had brought a fortnight 's provisions for themselves and the dogs , but they were anxious to eke these stores out as long as possible , as they could no longer depend upon getting fresh supplies from home . The bodies of the ermines were but a mouthful for one of the dogs , while the sables and martens gave them a mouthful all round .