about ten o’clock
They expected to get out of the valley quickly , and be back at the fort before sunset , as they had only two or three miles of the island to cross after leaving the ice . This would be a few hours after the time fixed , but not long enough to cause any serious anxiety to their friends at home . They made their calculation without allowing for an incident which no human perspicacity could possibly have foreseen . It was about ten o'clock when Marbre and Sabine , who were some twenty paces in advance of the rest , suddenly stopped and appeared to be debating some point . When the others came up , Sabine was holding out his compass to Marbre , who was staring at it with an expression of the utmost astonishment . `` What an extraordinary thing ! '' he exclaimed , and added , turning to the Lieutenant -- `` Will you tell me , sir , the position of the island with regard to the ice-wall , is it on the east or west ? ''