midnight
One or two children sitting on the earth beside her rendered her assistance , and a third kept the turf fire glowing under a huge bubbling caldron . Kenkenes passed through the camp by this narrow way and paused to look with much curiosity at the ancient Israelite . Never had he seen any old person so active or a slave so wrapped in covering . He hoped she would lift her head that he might see her face ; and even as he wished , she pierced him with a look which , from her midnight eyes , seemed like lightning from a thunder-cloud . `` Gods ! '' he exclaimed as he retreated up the slope behind the camp . And a moment later he continued his soliloquy in a voice that struggled between mirth and amazement : `` Have I never seen an Israelite until I beheld these twain , the Lady Miriam and that bent dart of lightning in the valley ?