midnight
And when he shut his eyes upon them , it was only to travel in fancy down the steep mountain side that he had trodden so often to the dreary claim on the overflowed river , to the heaps of `` tailings '' that encumbered it , like empty shells of the hollow , profitless days spent there , which they were always waiting for the stroke of good fortune to clear away . He saw again the rotten `` sluicing , '' through whose hopeless rifts and holes even their scant daily earnings had become scantier . At last he arose , and with infinite gentleness let himself down from his berth without disturbing his sleeping partner , and wrapping himself in his blanket , went to the door , which he noiselessly opened . From the position of a few stars that were glittering in the northern sky he knew that it was yet scarcely midnight ; there were still long , restless hours before the day ! In the feverish state into which he had gradually worked himself it seemed to him impossible to wait the coming of the dawn . But he was mistaken . For even as he stood there all nature seemed to invade his humble cabin with its free and fragrant breath , and invest him with its great companionship .