noon
Why , we could sit down on our heels and skim along on the nails of our boots , with nothing to do but steer . '' `` Do n't talk , my lad , '' said Bracy . `` Now , forward once more . '' The journey was continued , and grew so laborious at last from the smoothness of the ice , which increased as the gradient grew heavier -- the melted snow having run and made the surface more compact during the sunny noon ; and at the end of another couple of hours the difficulty of getting on and up was so great that Bracy changed his course a little so as to lessen the ascent by taking it diagonally . This made matters a little better , and tramp , tramp , they went on and on , rising more swiftly than they knew , and little incommoded now by the darkness , for the stars were shining out through the cloudy mist which hung over the slope , while their spirits seemed to rise with the ascent . `` Have we passed the rocks along which we saw that body of men moving ? '' said Bracy at last .