midnight
Do n't want to come back and find the shanty burned up . '' This remark settled the matter , and they started out into the keen dark morning , the dog , after bounding about a little and indulging in a roll in the snow , placing himself by the trace as if drawing , and walking in front of the empty sledge which Tregelly was dragging . `` Might as well have let you pull too , '' said the latter ; `` but never mind -- you may rest this time . '' No fires were burning yet , as they trudged on over the frozen snow , while the stars glittered brilliantly as if it were midnight , giving quite enough light for them to make their way over the four miles which divided them from Tregelly 's claim . `` Getting pretty close now , '' he said , breaking the silence ; for the rugged state of the slippery snow had resulted in the latter part of the journey being made in silence , only broken by the crunching of the icy particles and the squeaking sound made from time to time by the sledge runners as they glided over the hard surface . Suddenly Tregelly stopped short , and as they were in single file , the rest halted too . `` What 's the matter ? ''