midnight
Every order was conveyed in a whisper . No clink of sabre , nor clatter of muskets was heard . The snow , which had begun to fall , muffled the tread and deadened each sound . The column wound on in the hush of midnight over the wintry waste , stealing like a tiger on its prey . The piquets , lulled into security by the storm , were avoided by a _ detour _ . Now amid the blackness of night , the deeper blackness of the fort loomed up . McKay and Zenas moved to the front beside Captain Villiers who whispered his commands .