eight o'clock
He had dragged the cooking stove up to the entrance to the tent and was trying to start a fire . Twice the tiny flames had flickered and gone out , but now , fanned vigorously , the wood caught , and soon the stove was red-hot , the top spluttering with the snowflakes which fell upon it . The fire warmed the air in the tent , and for the balance of the night the party rested comfortably in body if not in mind . With the coming of morning the storm abated , and by eight o'clock the sun was struggling to shine through the drifting clouds . The captain , as if to atone for his misdeeds , prepared breakfast , giving to Earl and Randy the best of the flap-jacks turned out . The captain was a great hand at these cakes , and the party was certain to get them whenever he was cook . `` For all we know , the boat may have gone clear down to the entrance to Tagish Lake , '' remarked Foster Portney , while finishing the repast .