midnight
He drew a long breath , for there was a heavy , rustling sound above , as if the man on the roof was altering his position . Then there came a sharp scratch , for the greater part of a box of matches had been struck all at once . Then there was a brilliant flash of light , the momentary glimpse of a big hairy hand , from which the burning matches began to fall , while the interior of the dark hut was lit up , showing the dog , with eyes glistening and bared teeth , crouched to spring , and the two young men kneeling , each with his weapon raised . But they did not fire , feeling that it would be madness to trust to hitting the unseen , for the hand was too small a target ; and before they could make up their minds what to do next , two shots were fired from outside , and a cry rang out on the midnight air . The long-silent dog burst out into a hoarse bark once more , as the two young men knelt there as if paralysed , and the tiny splints died out one by one where they had fallen amongst the wood ashes , while from the roof there was a horrible scrambling , struggling sound , hoarse cries , the crunching of the frozen snow , followed by the scraping sound as of some one sliding down the slope of the roof , and then a dull , heavy thud , a groan or two , and finally complete silence . `` He has it , '' said Dallas hoarsely . `` Hush !