About eight o'clock
The fact that Mallory was nearer death than I -- which was shown by his constant attempts to lie down -- kept me up . The sense of responsibility aroused my mind . I would implore him to try to walk for a little while longer , and then push him along again . About eight o'clock I got a fire going again , and made Mallory drink , the last drop . I told him we were not more than half a mile from the cabins -- that he must rouse up now , and strive with me to reach our friends . `` Was he willing to die , '' I asked , `` just as we were on the threshold of safety ? '' The coffee helped him a little , but I had had none , so in that last struggle he was as strong as I .