midnight
And now , as I sat with the rifle in my hands , I was aware of a sound -- new , exciting , different altogether from the murmur of innumerable waters that filled my ears , and in sharp contrast with the droning echoes of the rushing flood . It was a sound that spoke of life . I heard quick , heavy pantings , as of some great living thing ; and with this there came the noise of regular movements in the water , and the foaming and gurgling of waves . It was as though some living , breathing creature were here , not far away , moving through these midnight waters ; and with this discovery there came a new fear -- the fear of pursuit . I thought that some sea-monster had scented me in my boat , and had started to attack me . This new fear aroused me to action . It was a danger quite unlike any other which I had ever known ; yet the fear which it inspired was a feeling that roused me to action , and prompted me , even though the coming danger might be as sure as death , to rise against it and resist to the last .