four in the afternoon
The one who answered to the name of Browning was shorter than the other by an inch , but deeper-chested ; the candlelight showed that his eyes were blue , and his mustache and short curly hair were of chestnut color . The other was a little taller , but not so compactly built , and in the uncertain light his eyes , hair and mustache seemed to be black ; but really his eyes were gray and his hair brown . Both were young , perhaps twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age , and both were perfect pictures of good health and good nature . Their shift was from four in the afternoon to midnight ; but when at midnight they went back through the drift to the shaft to be hoisted to the surface , the night foreman informed them that there was some trouble with the cage ; that while they could still hoist rock , it was not deemed safe to trust men on the cage , and , accordingly , some blankets , mattresses , and supper had been sent down , and they would have to spend the night in a cross-cut running from the shaft . The other miners growled . These two made no complaint , but ate their suppers , then took their beds and spread them in the cross-cut . Sedgwick and Browning went farthest into the cross-cut , made their beds together , and lay down .