midnight
The soldiers in their hut did not see the light ; but it was seen by the crew of a lugger , driving through the waves of the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale . Accordingly , putting the helm down , their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened danger that was prepared for the occupants below , and made her touch the land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit , hid from observation by the interposing cliffs . Leaping to the shore , Alain Le Gallais , who was the sole passenger , climbing the western heights , made his way by paths with which he was well acquainted from his youth , to the manor-house of his exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant . It was near midnight when he arrived . All was dark . The yard-dog , roused by his familiar footsteps , shook himself and sate down without raising any alarm : nay , when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer gate of the court-yard , the animal rose once more , and advanced to meet Alain , fawning and wagging his tail . Alain was not sorry that the ladies were asleep .