About noon
And before it was fully light the children began to wake ; soon they were all awake and most of them crying with hunger and fright . Then the scenes of the afternoon were repeated . The worn-out teacher sang and told stories , and led in games till she was ready to drop with exhaustion . About noon a shout startled them , and Harry rushed to the door ; indeed all started for it in a mad rush , but Miss Grey ordered them back so sternly that they obeyed . In a moment the room was full of men -- or were they some strange snow-monsters ? -- clad in white from head to foot , and so disguised by the snow that no child could know his own father . With joy and relief , Miss Grey almost fainted , while the men , after assuring themselves that all the children were safe , listened to Harry 's animated story of the terrible night , and then applauded Miss Grey for her heroic labors .