One o'clock
`` And which way do you propose ? '' The guide raised the ice-axe , which never seemed to leave his side , and pointed out the route he meant to take , with the difficulties likely to be encountered among the great snowfields which clothed the giant 's sides . An hour later the preparations had been made , and they were all sleeping , when , just as he had apparently closed his eyes , Melchior stood over Saxe and roused him up once more . `` One o'clock , herr ; and the coffee is nearly ready . '' It had now become such a matter of course to rise at these nocturnal hours for long expeditions , that Saxe turned out at once , with nothing more than a growl or two and a vicious snatch at his clothes . The cold water and the coffee , however , soon set him right , and at two punctually the trio were on their way along the valley , with the last quarter of the moon to light them as they struck up close by the end of the lower glacier , and then went on and on at a steady rate toward the great giant whose pyramidal peak could be faintly discerned in the distance , looking to Saxe terribly far off , and as if it would be impossible to reach the top that day . But their guide had cunning ways for shortening the distance , leading them round this outer buttress , up that ravine , and in and out and along shelves , so that , by the time the sun rose , they had well mastered the outworks , and were ready to attack the peak itself .