midnight
He seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled . A man near him who up to this time had been working feverishly at his rifle suddenly stopped and ran with howls . A lad whose face had borne an expression of exalted courage , the majesty of he who dares give his life , was , at an instant , smitten abject . He blanched like one who has come to the edge of a cliff at midnight and is suddenly made aware . There was a revelation . He , too , threw down his gun and fled . There was no shame in his face .