midnight
But I do say that we must give our attention to those that remain , and turn our faces steadily toward the future . '' `` Abiel , '' returned the President , pressing the professor 's hand , `` you are right . My confidence in you was shaken , but now I follow you again . '' Thus they talked until midnight , and then got a little rest with the others . They were up and off at break of day , and as they mounted higher they began to encounter immense rocks that had come tumbling down from above . `` How can you talk of people escaping toward the mountains if they had to encounter these ? '' demanded the President .