nearly
midnight
`` Do n't touch it with your hands , Tom . '' While the girls were telling us of the fox 's strange actions we warmed ourselves at the fire in the camp stove , and then all set off for home , for by this time it was getting late and the night was growing colder . Halstead led the way with the two lanterns ; Addison and I , each shouldering a basket of mitchella , followed ; Tom , dragging the body of the fox with his hooked stick , came behind the girls . It was nearly midnight when we reached home . Tom still thought that the fox 's silvery pelt ought to be saved ; but the old Squire persuaded him not to run the risk of skinning the creature . Despite the hard times and low prices , the old Squire determined to go on with his lumber business that winter ; and as more teams were needed for work at his logging camp in the woods , he bought sixteen work-horses , from Prince Edward Island . They had come by steamer to Portland ; and the old Squire , with two hired men , went down to get them .