midnight
His slumber was long , but broken ; and at length he awoke in terror ; for he heard a voice pronounce in his ear distinctly these words ; `` They have brought the dead body . '' They were driving by a churchyard at the entrance of a town ; and among the tombs a dim lamp was burning before an image of the Virgin . It had a most unearthly appearance . Flemming almost feared to see the congregation of the dead go into the church and sing their midnight mass . He spoke to Berkley ; but received no answer ; he was in a deep sleep . `` Then it was only a dream , '' said he to himself ; `` yet how distinct the voice was ! O , if we had spiritual organs , to see and hear things now invisible and inaudible to us , we should behold the whole air filled with the departing souls of that vast multitude which every moment dies , -- should behold them streaming up like thin vapors heaven-ward , and hear the startling blast of the archangel 's trump sounding incessant through the universe and proclaiming the awful judgment day .