midnight
He knew the air behind him was thronged ; he heard the hum of innumerable murmurings together ; but his eyes could never catch them , they were too swift and nimble . Yet he knew they were there , because , on a backward glance , he saw the snow mounds surge as they grovelled flatlings out of sight ; he saw the trees reel as they screwed themselves rigid past recognition among the boughs . And after such glance the stars for awhile returned to steadfastness , and an infinite stretch of silence froze upon the chill grey world , only deranged by the swift even beat of the flying feet , and his own -- slower from the longer stride , and the sound of his breath . And for some clear moments he knew that his only concern was , to sustain his speed regardless of pain and distress , to deny with every nerve he had her power to outstrip him or to widen the space between them , till the stars crept up to midnight . Then out again would come that crowd invisible , humming and hustling behind , dense and dark enough , he knew , to blot out the stars at his back , yet ever skipping and jerking from his sight . A hideous check came to the race . White Fell swirled about and leapt to the right , and Christian , unprepared for so prompt a lurch , found close at his feet a deep pit yawning , and his own impetus past control .