midnight
Below him , the sky was alight with the flames . Now and then a thunderous crash told where some giant of the forest had given up the fight -- three hundred and fifty years ' work undone in an hour . Half a dozen coyotes and a wildcat skulked out of the timber that fringed the meadow and buried themselves in the little clump of willows that grew about the spring . By midnight he realized that to stay where he was meant death for himself and his woolly charges . The sheep were restless , constantly moving about on the bed ground , the lambs running and bleating through the herd as if they , too , realized the danger . The dog whined and looked anxiously toward the coming light , which now made the night almost as bright as noonday . `` What would ` st thou do , Panchito ? ''