midnight
He was silent . Suddenly he broke out : `` I came home raving ! The old man was scared out of his wits by my frenzy -- I drank like ten men -- in a month was the terror of Westring . One midnight , going home through the beech-wood -- I do n't know if you have noticed a hollow elm-tree which stands to the right of the path ? '' `` I think I have '' , said Loveday . `` We shall pass near it presently ; and at the moment when we approach it , I shall feel a little thrill in my back : always it is so with me . But I was saying : that midnight , as I passed the tree , drunk as I was , I saw a naked black man with a long beard run out ; I took to my heels ; he was after me ; till I reached the bridge , when I stopped , faced him , fired a blow into his eyes , and he vanished .