midnight
Afar , beyond the fir-grove , beyond the low hill behind , the absent Christian was hastening his return . From daybreak he had been afoot , carrying notice of a bear hunt to all the best hunters of the farms and hamlets that lay within a radius of twelve miles . Nevertheless , having been detained till a late hour , he now broke into a run , going with a long smooth stride of apparent ease that fast made the miles diminish . He entered the midnight blackness of the fir-grove with scarcely slackened pace , though the path was invisible ; and passing through into the open again , sighted the farm lying a furlong off down the slope . Then he sprang out freely , and almost on the instant gave one great sideways leap , and stood still . There in the snow was the track of a great wolf . His hand went to his knife , his only weapon .