midnight
Here was matter for dismay , for they were soaked through and chilled . They were eloquent in their distress ; but they presently discovered that the fire had eaten so far up under the great log it had been built against -LRB- where it curved upward and separated itself from the ground -RRB- , that a handbreadth or so of it had escaped wetting ; so they patiently wrought until , with shreds and bark gathered from the under sides of sheltered logs , they coaxed the fire to burn again . Then they piled on great dead boughs till they had a roaring furnace , and were gladhearted once more . They dried their boiled ham and had a feast , and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glorified their midnight adventure until morning , for there was not a dry spot to sleep on , anywhere around . As the sun began to steal in upon the boys , drowsiness came over them , and they went out on the sandbar and lay down to sleep . They got scorched out by and by , and drearily set about getting breakfast . After the meal they felt rusty , and stiff-jointed , and a little homesick once more .