three o'clock
`` Lenstock , '' said the guide . `` How long would it take us to get up to the top , Melchior ? '' `` Too late to-day , herr . Start at three o'clock with lanthorn while the schnee-snow is hard . Ten hours to go up , seven to come down . '' Richard Dale looked at his young companion , whose forehead was wrinkled , as he stared up at the huge mass of rock from its lower green alps or pastures , up over the grey lichened stone , to where the streakings of white snow began , and then higher and higher to the region of everlasting ice . `` Well , '' he said at last , as he lowered his eyes to the guide and the strong , resolute-looking man beside him , `` I -- '' A quick change came over him , and with a laughing look he continued quickly : `` Not travellers ' tales , eh ? ''