about five o'clock
The dust sifted through the numerous cracks in the cabin burdened our clothes , spoiled our food and blinded our eyes . Wind , snow , sleet and rainstorms are discomforting enough under trying circumstances ; but all combined , they are nothing to the choking stinging , blinding sandstorm . `` Shore it 'll let up by sundown , '' averred Jim . And sure enough the roar died away about five o'clock , the wind abated and the sand settled . Just before supper , a knock sounded heavily on the cabin door . Jim opened it to admit one of Emmett 's sons and a very tall man whom none of us knew . He was a sand-man .