midnight
The road we followed was by now fairly visible beneath the faint star-gleam , and once we were below the bluff the broad expanse of river appeared at our left , a dim , flowing mystery , the opposite shore invisible . To our strained eyes it seemed an endless flood of surging water . Immediately about us , all remained dark and silent , the few trees lining the summit of the overhanging bluff assuming grotesque shapes , and occasionally startling us by their strange resemblance to human beings . Not even the moaning of wind through the branches broke the intense midnight stillness . I could feel her hand , grasping my sleeve , tremble from nervous tension . `` Saunder 's Creek is just beyond that ridge -- see , '' she whispered , causing me to pause . `` I mean the darker line in front .