midnight
So , vast masses of rock on the mountain side which have held their places for centuries , seem to leap from their foundations and tear their way with resistless force into the valley below . This was probably one of those accidental displacements , liable to occur at any hour of the day or night , which had come so startlingly near crushing the three men to death . Captain Dawson drew a match from his pocket and scraping it along his thigh , held it to the face of his watch . `` Just midnight and we are not more than half a dozen miles from home . '' `` And how far do you suppose _ they _ are ? '' asked the parson . `` Probably five times as much , if not more . ''