nearly midnight
But I settled his doubts by telling him , that I would have him on my shoulder naked , unless he came in five minutes ; not that he could do much good , but because the other men would be sure to skulk , if he set them the example . With spades , and shovels , and pitch-forks , and a round of roping , we four set forth to dig out the sheep ; and the poor things knew that it was high time . It must have snowed most wonderfully to have made that depth of covering in about eight hours . For one of Master Stickles ' men , who had been out all the night , said that no snow began to fall until nearly midnight . And here it was , blocking up the doors , stopping the ways , and the water courses , and making it very much worse to walk than in a saw-pit newly used . However , we trudged along in a line ; I first , and the other men after me ; trying to keep my track , but finding legs and strength not up to it . Most of all , John Fry was groaning ; certain that his time was come , and sending messages to his wife , and blessings to his children .