midnight
At the entrance of the village stood a large wooden crucifix ; around which was a crowd of priests and peasants , kneeling in the wet grass , by the roadside , with their hands and eyes lifted toheaven , and praying for rain . Their prayer was soon answered . The travellers drove on with the driving wind and rain . They had come from Landeck , and hoped to reach Innsbruck before midnight . Night closed in , and Flemming fell asleep with the loud storm overhead , and at his feet the roaring Inn , a mountain torrent leaping onward as wild and restless , as when it first sprang from its cradle in the solitudes of Engaddin ; meet emblem of himself , thus rushing through the night . His slumber was long , but broken ; and at length he awoke in terror ; for he heard a voice pronounce in his ear distinctly these words ; `` They have brought the dead body . '' They were driving by a churchyard at the entrance of a town ; and among the tombs a dim lamp was burning before an image of the Virgin .