about ten
o'clock
Everything portended it ; the atmosphere was absolutely still , not a twig or even a leaf stirred , all nature seemed to be waiting in breathless suspense for the coming outbreak ; even the insects had ceased to attack us , and had retired to their leafy retreat , and the air was so heavy and close that , naked as I was , I perspired at every pore . Not a sound broke the unnatural stillness save when , at irregular intervals , a low groan broke from some poor wretch upon the crucifixion tree in whom the life still lingered . But even to them relief was promised , for with the impending downpour of rain their wounds would quickly mortify , and then their sufferings would soon be at an end . Very slowly and gradually the storm worked its way toward the zenith , gathering intensity as it rose , and at length -- probably about ten o'clock -- the first drops of rain , hot and heavy , like gouts of blood , began to fall , quickly increasing to a drenching downpour , accompanied by lightning , green , rose-tinted , violet , sun-bright , that lighted up the town until every object , however minute , was as clearly visible as in broad daylight , while the ceaseless crashing of the thunder was unspeakably appalling . In the very height of the storm , when thunder , lightning , and rain together were raging in a perfect pandemonium , a stream of steel-blue lightning darted straight from the zenith , struck the crucifixion tree , and shattered it into a thousand fragments , leaving a great hole in the ground where it had stood ! The storm continued to rage in full fury for about an hour , and then the flashes of lightning , with their accompanying peals of thunder , gradually became less frequent , although the rain continued to beat down upon the parched earth in a perfect deluge which formed rivulets , ay , and even brooks of quite respectable size , flowing in every direction . My weary and aching frame soothed and refreshed by the pelting rain , I must have fallen into a kind of doze , for I was suddenly startled into full consciousness by the feeling that some one was meddling with my bonds , which , the next moment , severed by a sharp knife , fell from my limbs .