three in the morning
Against the abnormal frost it was imperative to cover their heads with the upper folds of these sleeping garments , as any part of the face left exposed would be frozen in a solid mask by morning . Weary with the long day 's trail , the men lay motionless beside the banked-up fires . Only two , Dunvegan and Maskwa , remained sitting upright , talking together in low tones over their plans , the crucial point of which was not far away . `` At three in the morning we break camp , '' the chief trader announced . `` By nightfall we must be within sight of Brondel . I think with a few hours ' rest that we might take them by surprise in the very early dawn . '' The Ojibway fort runner smoked slowly , pondering .