the hour of eleven
He was sure that neither of them knew of Croisset or of the beautiful girl whom he had met at Prince Albert , which led him to believe that there were other characters in the strange plot in which he had become involved besides those whom he had encountered on the Great North Trail . Again he examined the barricaded window and he was more than ever convinced that his chance hit at Thorne had struck true . He was tired from his long day 's travel but little inclination to sleep came to him , and stretching himself out on the lounge with his head and shoulders bolstered up with furs , he continued to smoke and think . He was surprised when a little clock tinkled the hour of eleven . He had not seen the clock before . Now he listened to the faint monotonous ticking it made close to his head until he felt an impelling drowsiness creeping over him and he closed his eyes . He was almost asleep when it struck again -- softly , and yet with sufficient loudness to arouse him .