midnight
The sun shone brilliantly , but there was no window to the small shed , and light and air came only through the door , which was left wide open . The tired travellers lay down on their spread-out rugs and blankets , and wishing each other a cheerful `` good night , '' were soon fast asleep . Errington was rather restless , and lay awake for some little time , listening to the stormy discourse of the Fall ; but at last his eyelids yielded to the heaviness that oppressed them , and he sank into a light slumber . Meanwhile the imperial sun rode majestically downwards to the edge of the horizon , -- and the sky blushed into the pale tint of a wild rose , that deepened softly and steadily with an ever-increasing fiery brilliance as the minutes glided noiselessly on to the enchanted midnight hour . A wind began to rustle mysteriously among the pines -- then gradually growing wrathful , strove to whistle a loud defiance to the roar of the tumbling waters . Through the little nooks and crannies of the roughly constructed cabin , where the travellers slept , it uttered small wild shrieks of warning or dismay -- and , suddenly , as though touched by an invisible hand , Sir Philip awoke . A crimson glare streaming through the open door dazzled his drowsy eyes -- was it a forest on fire ?