About three o'clock in the morning
The last time he did so the doctor , whose head had fallen forward , looked up with a jerk and frowned as he signed him to go back . After this , Charnock kept as still as his jarred nerves would permit . Sometimes Festing groaned , and sometimes made a feeble movement , but so far as Charnock could see , his eyes were shut . About three o'clock in the morning , the doctor stood for some minutes beside the bunk , and Charnock shivered as he watched his face . The shack seemed very quiet except for the throb of the river and the grinding of the ice . Then the doctor gave him a nod that hinted at satisfaction , and told him to refill the iron drum at Festing 's feet with hot water . By and by he put fresh wood in the stove , moving cautiously and taking as long as possible , because it was a relief to do something after sitting still in suspense .