one o'clock
They boiled tea at the old camp site , and tightened their belts for a stern chase . That afternoon the head wind opposed them , exasperating , tireless in its resistance , never lulling for a single instant . At the moment it seemed more than could be borne . Near one o'clock it did them a great despite , for at that hour the trail came to a broad and wide lake . There the snow had fallen , and the wind had drifted it so that the surface of the ice was white and smooth as paper . The faint trail led accurately to the bank -- and was obliterated . Nothing remained but to circle the shores to right and to left until the place of egress was discovered .