midnight
For the ice was moving and the water rising . The long sleep of winter was over , and down the great length of the river that touches three empires men must needs be on the alert night and day . Between the piers of the bridge the ice had become blocked , and the large , flat floes sweeping down on the current were pushing , hustling , and climbing on each other with grunts and squeaks as if they had been endowed with some low form of animal life . The rain did not cease at midnight , but the clouds lifted a little , and the night was less dark . The moon above the clouds was almost full . `` There is only one chance of escape , '' Kosmaroff had said -- `` the river . Meet me on the steps at the bottom of the Bednarska at half-past twelve .