midnight
The roar had hardly subsided , when , as before , the stamping of the floor commenced with furious rhythm . Ah , it was not a dream , but a real thing ! `` Quit making the noise ! 'T is midnight ! '' I shouted to beat the band , and started in their direction . My passage was dark ; the moonlight yonder was only my guide . About twelve feet past , I stumbled squarely against some hard object ; ere the `` Ouch ! ''