midnight
The sand was to their ankles , and off the ridge summit the wind whirled the sharp grit into their faces . `` What 's comin ' , Sam ; a storm ? '' `` Snow , '' answered the scout shortly , `` a blizzard of it , er I lose my guess . ` Fore midnight yer wo n't be able ter see yer hand afore yer face . I 've ben out yere in them things a fore , an ' they 're sure hell . If we do n't git sight o ' thet outfit mighty soon , ' t ai n't likely we ever will . I 've been expectin ' that wind to shift nor ` east all day -- then we 'll get it . ''