midnight
`` Is n't it strange ? '' said Dean , after walking in and out amongst the trees for some twenty yards . `` Strange , yes , '' replied Mark . `` Why , it wants a couple of hours to mid-day , and we might fancy that it only wanted a couple of hours to midnight . Well , let 's go a little farther . '' `` Very well , '' replied Dean , stepping out ; `` but we could not see Mak if he was close at hand . '' `` No , but we shall hear him directly .