twelve o'clock
They brought a cow with them and a big collie whose back had been scarred by a lynx . He was good company and a brave hunter , this dog ; and one day -- it was February , four years after their coming , and the snow lay deep -- he left the dale and not even a track behind him . Far and wide they went searching , but saw no sign of him . Near a month later , one night , past twelve o'clock , they heard his bark in the distance . Allen rose and lit a candle and opened the door . They could hear him plainer , and now , mingled with his barking , a faint tinkle of bells . It had begun to thaw , and a cold rain was drumming on roof and window .