midnight
The long night set in , and the soldier , wearied from his long wait , dropped to sleep in spite of the noise . Lucia 's tired little body rested , but her eyes never relaxed their watch in the darkness . The fire kept up steadily , and at irregular intervals a star-shell would illuminate the high mountains . Towards midnight there was an extra loud explosion , and once more the terrifying flames seemed to encircle Cellino . Lucia wondered dully what had been struck . The church was gone , and she supposed this was the town hall . It looked too near , as far as she could judge , for the convent .