10
p.m.
Buzzby was not quite sure of this , but contented himself by saying : `` Well , mayhap ye 're right . I 'm sorry it 's to come to an end so soon , but there is no doubt that fresh meat is ondispensable -- an ' that reminds me , messmate , that I 've not cleaned my musket for two days , an ' it would n't do to go on a hunt with a foul piece , nohow . We start at 10 o'clock a.m. , do n't we ? '' Grim admitted that they did -- remarking that it might just as well be 10 p.m. , for all the difference the _ sun _ would make in it -- and went below with Buzzby . In the cabin active preparations were making for an extended hunting expedition , which the empty state of the larder rendered absolutely necessary . For a week past the only fresh provisions they had procured were a white fox and a rabbit , notwithstanding the exertions of Meetuck , Fred , and the doctor , who with three separate parties had scoured the country for miles round the ship . Scurvy was now beginning to appear among them , and Captain Guy felt that although they had enough of salt provisions to last them the greater part of the winter , if used with economy , they could not possibly subsist on these alone .