twelve o'clock exactly
Each hillock , every rock , every stone , every asperity of the soil had its share of the luminous effulgence , and its shadow fell heavily on the soil . Among others , to his insane delight , the shadow of Scartaris was marked and clear , and moved slowly with the radiant start of day . My uncle moved with it in a state of mental ecstasy . At twelve o'clock exactly , when the sun had attained its highest altitude for the day , the shadow fell upon the edge of the central pit ! `` Here it is , '' gasped the Professor in an agony of joy , `` here it is -- we have found it . Forward , my friends , into the Interior of the Earth . '' I looked curiously at Hans to see what reply he would make to this terrific announcement .