four o'clock
But even in this solitude fear drove me on , for I knew that a relentless enemy followed hard after us , camping where we had camped and reading the miles between us by the smouldering ashes of our old fires . At nightfall I would pitch the tent for Jacqueline and place her sleeping-bag within , and while she slept I would lie by the huge fire near the dogs , and we kept watch over her together . So passed three days and nights . The fourth short day drew toward its end a little after four o'clock . I remember that we camped late , for the sun had already dipped to the level horizon and was casting black , mile-long shadows across the snow . A whistling wind came up . The dogs had been showing signs of distress that afternoon , pulling us more and more reluctantly , and walking with drooping ears and muzzles depressed .