midnight
This cooled and somewhat improved his understanding , so that he returned to the knoll a wiser , a wetter , and a sadder boy . Who shall describe the agonies , the hopes , the fears , the wanderings , the faggings , and the final despair of the succeeding hours ? It is impossible to say who will describe all this , for _ we _ have not the slightest intention of attempting it . Towards midnight Dan reached a very dark and lonely part of the mountains , and was suddenly arrested by a low wail . The sturdy Celt raised his lantern on high . Just at that moment Peter 's despair happened to culminate , and he lifted his head out of the heather to give free vent to the hideous groan , with which he meant , if possible , to terminate his existence . The groan became a shriek , first of terror , then of hope , after that of anxiety , as Dan came dancing towards him like a Jack-o ' - lantern .