nearly midnight
Waring brought in a shovelful of embers from the dying fire outside , under whose ashes a goose , swathed in sea-weed , was preparing for supper , and Peter followed him with some small chunks of wood . The stove `` drew '' beautifully , and but one drawback could be discovered -- it made the atmosphere within too warm for comfort , at the then temperature . `` No matter that , '' said Peter , prophetically ; `` we glad see plenty fire here to-morrow night . '' It was nearly midnight when the four ate supper and gave the fragments to their faithful dog . Before sleeping , La Salle stepped outside the hut . The wind had lessened greatly , but still blew mildly warm from a southerly direction . `` We must now be somewhere off Shediac , but I see no open water , and the pack is as close as ever .