midnight
`` You 'll need it , to dry out by , arfter the rain stops . '' `` If it ever does stop , '' grumbled Phil . Rain was Phil 's great bugbear when he was on any kind of an outing . At midnight the rain was coming down as steadily as ever . But the strong wind had died down somewhat , so by remaining close to some overhanging rocks they were more or less protected from the elements . But they could not lie down , and sleep was out of the question . `` Dave , do you think Merwell and Haskers went back to Butte ? ''