midnight
Years had changed the more perishable features of the scene ; but rock and iron yield slowly to the influence of time . On looking more narrowly , Wolfert remarked three crosses cut in the rock just above the ring , which had no doubt some mysterious signification . Old Sam now readily recognized the overhanging rock under which his skiff had been sheltered during the thunder-gust . To follow up the course which the midnight gang had taken , however , was a harder task . His mind had been so much taken up on that eventful occasion by the persons of the drama , as to pay but little attention to the scenes ; and places looked different by night and day . After wandering about for some time , however , they came to an opening among the trees which Sam thought resembled the place . There was a ledge of rock of moderate height like a wall on one side , which Sam thought might be the very ridge from which he overlooked the diggers .