eight in the evening
The settlers had here an abundant reserve of aquatic game . At some future time they meant to explore it more carefully , and it was probable that some of the birds there might be domesticated , or at least brought to the shores of the lake , so that they would be more within their reach . About five o'clock in the evening Cyrus Harding and his companions retraced their steps to their dwelling by traversing Tadorn 's Fens , and crossed the Mercy on the ice-bridge . At eight in the evening they all entered Granite House . This intense cold lasted till the 15th of August , without , however , passing the degree of Fahrenheit already mentioned . When the atmosphere was calm , the low temperature was easily borne , but when the wind blew , the poor settlers , insufficiently clothed , felt it severely . Pencroft regretted that Lincoln Island was not the home of a few families of bears rather than of so many foxes and seals .