midnight
But to escape without him , that will I never do ! '' Nothing more was said . The three boys , weary after their long journey , curled themselves up to sleep . So soundly did young Olaf sleep , that at midnight , when a man 's hands unbound the chain about his neck he was not awakened . Very cautiously the man took him up in his strong arms , and carried him away among the dark shadows of the trees to a part of the forest far removed from the campfires . And at last he laid the lad down on a bed of dry reeds and moss at the side of the stream , where the bright moon , shining through an open glade , shed its light upon his fair round face and his short gold hair . There the man stood over him , watching him as he dreamed his childish dreams .