four o'clock
At the touch of the snow , the coats of the horses ruffled up , and they stepped sluggishly . Asa had to chirrup constantly to the six ahead , and those behind lagged at their halters . The storm increased and we got on slowly . By four o'clock it had grown dark . Suddenly the horses pricked their ears uneasily , and one of them snorted . We were ascending a rocky , wooded valley between Saddleback Mountain and the White Birch Hills . The horses continued to show signs of uneasiness , and presently sounds of a tremendous commotion came from the side of the hills a little way ahead .