three o'clock in the afternoon
Without them we would indeed be up against it , as you say , '' replied the older man , seriously , as they were making their way across the big `` Divide '' when the native had left them . Snow was now beginning to fall in large flakes ; a storm signal , and one they liked little . The temperature was falling . It was quite dark at three o'clock in the afternoon , and they were obliged to travel by snow-light . When camp was finally made , after halting for the night in a thicket of pine and spruce trees , the men were cold , tired and hungry . Close under the branches of the pine trees they pitched their little tent for shelter . A big fire of logs and branches was kindled in front .