midnight
Major ! An English steamer is at anchor in the cove , and is sending her boat ashore . '' Tom and Laura rushed to the window ; the snow was all over now , and they could see the monster lying within half a mile . `` Where would they be , Miss Cutts , if somebody had not wound up the lamps at midnight ? Guess they said ` Merry Christmas ' when they see 'em . '' And Laura held her breath when she thought what might have been . Tom and Mipples ran down to the beach to hail them , and direct the landing .