midnight
She then also remembered her adventure with Sappho , and what Mrs. Margaret had told her of the concealed passage ; and now recollecting that secret passage , she was aware that she stood not very far from the mysterious door-way . All these thoughts crowded to her mind , but perfect quiet was needful at the moment . As the disk of the sun approached the horizon , the light was rapidly increasing ; the dawn in those higher latitudes is however long , but those who knew the signs of the morning were aware that it would soon terminate , and that they whose deeds feared the light had no time to lose . Tamar accordingly heard low voices , speaking , as it were in the mouth of the cavern , and then a voice of one without the cavern -- of one as in the act of departing , saying distinctly , `` twelve then at midnight ! '' The answer from within did not reach Tamar 's ears , at least , she heard only an indistinct murmur , but the voice without again came clear to her , and the words were to this effect , `` I will not fail ; I will take care that he shall be in no condition to return ; '' the answer was again lost to Tamar , and probably some question , but the reply to this question was clear . `` It is his day to go , -- the garrison ca n't live without provision , -- if he do n't go to-day , we must skulk another twenty-four hours , -- we must not venture with him , there will be murder ! '' then followed several sentences in such broad slang , as Tamar could not comprehend , though she thought she understood the tendency of these words , which were mixed with oaths and terms so brutal , that her blood ran cold in thinking of them ; `` Caught in his own snare , -- he will sink in his own dyke , -- we have him now , pelf and all . ''