About four o'clock
It was not , therefore , with a very hopeful feeling that they obeyed the summons and returned to the claim . Though of a sanguine disposition , they began to doubt seriously whether their efforts would ever be rewarded . They had pretty much lost the stimulus of hope . About four o'clock , when Jack was at work with the pick , something curious happened . Instead of sinking into the earth it glanced off , as from something hard . `` What is it , Jack ? '' asked Obed quickly .