nine o’clock
He sees the significance of facts , he reflects , he calculates , he reckons up the time still remaining to us , and I see that he is beginning to lose all hope . '' `` He is a brave , energetic man , for all that , '' replied Madge . `` Yes , '' added Mrs Barnett , `` and if it be in the power of man to save us , he will do it . '' By nine o'clock the two women had walked four miles . They were often obliged to go inland for some little distance , to avoid parts of the coast already invaded by the sea . Here and there the waves had encroached half-a-mile beyond the former high-water line , and the thickness of the ice-field had been considerably reduced . There was danger that it would soon yield in many places , and that new bays would be formed all along the coast .