midnight
The head is no sooner on the pillow than consciousness is lost ; and yet , at a necessary hour , the mind appears to arouse the body , as promptly as if it had stood sentinel the while over it . There can be no doubt that they who are thus roused awake by the influence of thought over matter , though the mode in which this influence is exercised must remain hidden from our curiosity until it shall be explained , should that hour ever arrive , by the entire enlightenment of the soul on the subject of all human mysteries . Thus it was with Hetty Hutter . Feeble as the immaterial portion of her existence was thought to be , it was sufficiently active to cause her to open her eyes at midnight . At that hour she awoke , and leaving her bed of skin and boughs she walked innocently and openly to the embers of the fire , stirring the latter , as the coolness of the night and the woods , in connection with an exceedingly unsophisticated bed , had a little chilled her . As the flame shot up , it lighted the swarthy countenance of the Huron on watch , whose dark eyes glistened under its light like the balls of the panther that is pursued to his den with burning brands . But Hetty felt no fear , and she approached the spot where the Indian stood .