midnight
But never before had he been near death in so horrible a form . The sodden noises in the mud , the deadened flopping of the sinking body -- mud-plastered hands beating frantically on mud , spattering , agonising in darkness -- `` My God , '' he breathed , `` anything but that -- anything but that ! -- '' Before midnight he struck the hard forest . Here there was no trail at all , only spreading outcrop of rock under dying leaves . He could see a few stars . Cautiously he ventured to shine his compass close to the ground .