twelve o'clock
Regnar brought in about twenty bundles more of fir-twigs , which were piled against the wall so as to form a kind of slanting pillow , against which the party might rest their backs and heads in a half-sitting posture , without being chilled by the ice-wall of their narrow dormitory . Waring drew his seal-skin cap over his ears , turned up his wide coat-collar of the same costly fur , and placed himself next to Peter , who , as the worst clad of the party , wrapped himself in his dingy blanket , and seated himself at the back of the hut . Regnar , in his Canadian capote , was next , and La Salle with difficulty found room between himself and the door for his faithful dog , whose natural warmth had already dried his long fur , and made him a very welcome bed-fellow under such circumstances . Thus disposed , it was not long before they all fell asleep ; and at twelve o'clock , La Salle , only half awake , gave Regnar his watch , and saw the resolute boy go out into the storm to commence his lonely vigil . Scarcely feeling that he had more than got fairly to sleep again , he was again awakened by Regnar , who said in a low voice , '' 'T is two o'clock , master ; but I would not waken you if I did not think that the floe has shifted sides , for we are no longer under a lee . I hear too , at times , cracking and grinding of the ice , and I think we are not far from shore . '' La Salle hurriedly went out .