about three o'clock in the morning
It could not be , he felt sure , entirely owing to the downpour from the clouds that the rapid flood was rising ; there must have been the sudden overflowing of some stream to cause such a deluge over the low-lying plain . It could not be proved that the ant hill was not already under water , so that escape might be no longer possible , even from its highest point . With all Dick 's courage , it was yet evident that he was very uneasy ; he did not know what to do , and asked himself again and again whether patient waiting or decisive action would be his more prudent course . It was now about three o'clock in the morning . All within the ant-hill were silent and motionless , listening to the incessant turmoil which told that the strife of the elements had not yet ceased . Presently , old Tom pointed out that the height of the water was gradually increasing , but only by very slow ascent . Dick could only say that if the flood continued to rise , however slowly , it must inevitably drive out the air .