Midnight
But , as the tired bird still battles with the blast upon the ocean , as the swimmer still stems the stream , though spent , on went she : nor did Turpin dare to check her , fearing that , if she stopped , she might lose her force , or , if she fell , she would rise no more . It was now that gray and grimly hour ere one flicker of orange or rose has gemmed the east , and when unwearying Nature herself seems to snatch brief repose . In the roar of restless cities , this is the only time when their strife is hushed . Midnight is awake -- alive ; the streets ring with laughter and with rattling wheels . At the third hour , a dead , deep silence prevails ; the loud-voiced streets grow dumb . They are deserted of all , save the few guardians of the night and the skulking robber . But even far removed from the haunts of men and hum of towns it is the same .