about midnight
Not caring to strain the weakened propellers , they permitted the boat to drift down stream . When a mile away the illumination of the fire which had been so injudiciously set could still be seen distinctly , and when the boys listened they could hear the cries of the savages and the fierce howls of the wild beasts . During the day the boys had passed a level plateau on the east bank of the river , and it was decided to float down to that , as they could beach the Black Bear there and work without danger of being attacked from the shelter of a forest . They gained the spot about midnight and anchored some distance out , resolved to take no chances on the shore that night . The stream was quite wide , and they opened the top panels so as to get what fresh air they could . Jack was the first one to see the airship hovering over them . `` Look ! ''