twelve o’clock
In some places the laths became broken by their weight , and poor Mac-Nab was in despair ; he had not reckoned upon such a contingency when he constructed the roof , and expected to see it give way every moment . The day passed , however , without any change in the situation . The bears did not get in ; but a no less formidable enemy , the cold , gradually penetrated into every room . The fires in the stoves burnt low ; the fuel in reserve was almost exhausted ; and before twelve o'clock , the last piece of wood would be burnt , and the genial warmth of the stove would no longer cheer the unhappy colonists . Death would then await them-death in its most fearful form , from cold . The poor creatures , huddled together round the stove , felt that their own vital heat must soon become exhausted , but not a word of complaint passed their lips . The women bore their sufferings with the greatest heroism , and Mrs Mac-Nab pressed her baby convulsively to her ice-cold breast .