one o'clock
Only one explanation was possible : he 'd found a mine without going even as far as Minóok . He was a man to keep your eye on . A goodly aroma of steaming oysters and of grilling moose arose in the air . The Boy set up the amended bill of fare , lit the Christmas candles -- one at the top , one at the bottom of the board -- and the Colonel announced the first course , though it was n't one o'clock , and they usually dined at four . The soup was too absorbingly delicious to admit of conversation . The moose-steaks had vanished like the `` snaw-wreath in the thaw '' before anything much was said , save : `` Nothin ' th ' matter with moose , hey ? '' `` Nop !