about nine o'clock
McTeague halted and breakfasted , pushing on again immediately afterward . The dawn flamed and glowed like a brazier , and the sun rose a vast red-hot coal floating in fire . An hour passed , then another , and another . It was about nine o'clock . Once more the dentist paused , and stood panting and blowing , his arms dangling , his eyes screwed up and blinking as he looked about him . Far behind him the Panamint hills were already but blue hummocks on the horizon . Before him and upon either side , to the north and to the east and to the south , stretched primordial desolation .