midnight
It was , in fact , as if the Almighty Himself had sent down His avenging angel from the heavens , to pour His light upon them , in order to bear testimony against the dreadful work of blood in which they were engaged . Nor was this all . Ere the pause was broken , a burst of thunder , so deep , so loud , and so terrible , in such an hour , pealed from a point of the sky on their right , taking its course in the direction of the proctor 's house , where , in one terrific explosion , it seemed to burst exactly over their heads . Some were awed , but we all know that companionship fortifies the heart in the commission of crime , and in a few minutes the Almighty , His fires of vengeance , -- and His midnight thunders , were all alike forgotten . The assault on the door was now renewed with , if possible , more ferocious violence ; and it became evident to the unfortunate and now helpless inmates , that they must soon fall into the hands of those from whom they could expect no mercy . We say they were in a helpless state ; and this was occasioned by the explosion , which left them without ammunition , even if they had had their firearms . Such , however , was their hurry in escaping from the falling roof , joined to the shock and stupor caused by the death of John and his father , that they thought not for a moment of anything but mere self-preservation .