midnight
Time and again he had lain on his back in these uppermost heights , with the lower clouds behind him and the black wings of the birds and the crows almost touching his forehead , as he lay gazing up into the blue depth of the sky , and dreaming , dreaming , dreaming . He would never dream any more now , he thought to himself . His dreams had cost Katte her lambs , and the world of the dead Findelkind was gone for ever : gone were all the heroes and knights ; gone all the faith and the force ; gone every one who cared for the dear Christ and the poor in pain . The bells of Zirl were ringing midnight . Findelkind heard , and wondered that only two hours had gone by since his mother had kissed him in his bed . It seemed to him as if long , long nights had rolled away , and he had lived a hundred years . He did not feel any fear of the dark calm night , lit now and then by silvery gleams of moon and stars .