He had not brought his watch, partly because he had fastened a small compass on the chain, but he knew that day would not break for some hours yet.

The mist was thinner, although it had not gone, and looking up he guessed the moon's height by the elusive glimmer in the haze.

It was about four o'clock, and he imagined he had wakened when the heat of his body had sunk to its lowest; but was not altogether satisfied, since he had slept undisturbed by much keener frost.
For all that, it was a nuisance to get up and look for dead branches in the dark, and he waited, reluctant to throw off his blanket, for some minutes, and then roused himself with a jerk.

He imagined he heard voices out on the lake.

He glanced at Father Lucien, but the latter was fast asleep.