midnight
Master Zacharius sprang up . `` Midnight ! '' he cried . The hermit stretched out his hand towards the old clock , -- and midnight did not sound . Master Zacharius uttered a terrible cry , which must have been heard in hell , when these words appeared : -- The old clock burst with a noise like thunder , and the spring , escaping , leaped across the hall with a thousand fantastic contortions ; the old man rose , ran after it , trying in vain to seize it , and exclaiming , `` My soul , -- my soul ! '' The spring bounded before him , first on one side , then on the other , and he could not reach it .