midnight
Let me now meet this man and slay him , for there is no one who can now mourn for his death . It is right that he should die , for the hour of retribution has surely come ! '' Not long was Kenric in covering the few miles between Loch Ascog and Garroch Head . He feared to be too late , for it was already but one short hour before midnight . But his limbs were cold , and he had therefore a double reason for running . Soon , instead of being too cold he became over-hot ; his heavy sheepskin cloak oppressed him , and he threw it off , leaving it lying upon the ground . Thus relieved , he slung his sword under his arm and ran on and on past the silent farmsteads , over hard ploughed fields and bare moorland , past the desolate Circle of Penance , and past the little chapel of St. Blane 's , where many islanders were already gathered to join in the New Year service .