midnight
Sit down . '' They did as they were bid . Presently the cat , forsaking its sanctuary , and ignoring Curtis 's solicitations , glided across the floor , and climbing on to Kelson 's knee , refused to budge . The trio sat in silence till a few minutes before midnight , when Hamar rose , and , selecting a spot where the moonbeams lay thickest , placed thereon the tub of water , in which -- with its face uppermost -- he proceeded to float a small mirror , set in a cheap wooden frame . He then calmly produced a pocket knife . `` What 's that for ? '' Kelson inquired nervously .