about
half past one o'clock in the afternoon
He continued to watch Bower even more closely . He devoted to the task every instant that consideration for Helen 's safety and his own would allow . There was not much light in the crevasse . Heavy clouds and the smothering snow wraiths hid the travelers under a dense pall that suggested the approach of night , although the actual time was about half past one o'clock in the afternoon . The wind seemed to delight in torturing them with minute particles of ice that stung with a peculiar sensation of burning . These were bad enough . To add to their miseries , fine , powdery snowflakes settled on eyes and eyelids with blinding effect .