about ten o’clock
He pacified them as well as he could and left them with the assurance that he would return presently , having first reminded them that the lives of all depended upon the maintenance of the delusion as to the divinity of Otter and the Shepherdess . The remainder of that day passed heavily enough . After the first excitement of their strange position had gone by a reaction set in , and everybody was much depressed . As the hours drew on , the mist , which had lifted a little about ten o'clock , closed in very densely , throwing the ill-lighted chamber where they sat into a deep gloom . In such an atmosphere conversation languished ; indeed , at times it died altogether , and the only sound to be heard was that of the monotonous voices of the priests without the curtains , as they muttered prayers unceasingly . At length Leonard could bear it no longer , but rose , declaring that he was going out to see whatever might be seen . Juanna tried faintly to dissuade him , and Otter wished to come too , which was impossible .