about ten o'clock
We were in no merry humour , mind you ; but the weakest joke was better than dwelling on the horrors which surrounded us . Each of us knew that , but for Alzura 's quickness , I should have disappeared for ever , leaving no trace behind me . Twice before the break of day I had saved him from a similar fate . We left the islet about ten o'clock , and at midnight were still in the morass , unable to move . Alzura had joined me on a piece of firm ground , just large enough for us to stand on , and no more . It was darker now , so that we could see nothing clearly , while I failed to touch any solid substance , except that behind us , with my pole . Alzura 's attempts were equally unsuccessful .