eight o’clock in the morning
Mrs Barnett had endeavoured to reason with the unfortunate astronomer , but he would listen to nothing . He felt that Nature had deceived him , and that he could never forgive her . After many a hearty farewell , the Lieutenant and his two companions left the fort by the postern gate , and , turning to the west , followed the lengthened curve of the coast between Capes Bathurst and Esquimaux . It was eight o'clock in the morning ; the oblique rays of the sun struck upon the beach , and touched it with many a brilliant tint , the angry billows of the sea were sinking to rest , and the birds , ptarmigans , guillemots , puffins , and petrels , driven away by the storm , were returning by thousands . Troops of ducks were hastening back to Lake Barnett , flying close , although they knew it not , to Mrs Joliffe 's saucepan . Polar hares , martens , musk rats , and ermines rose before the travellers and fled at their approach , but not with any great appearance of haste or terror . The animals evidently felt drawn towards their old enemies by a common danger .