midnight
Then for the first time it struck me that I might easily lose my way in the mighty forest , and that this perhaps was the only danger which the wanderer had to fear . I therefore paused and looked round in the direction of the sun , which in the mean while had risen somewhat higher above the horizon . While I was thus looking up I saw something black in the branches of a lofty oak . I thought it was a bear and I grasped my sword ; but with a human voice , that sounded harsh and ugly , it called to me from above : ` If I do not nibble away the branches up here , Sir Malapert , what shall we have to roast you with at midnight ? ' And so saying it grinned and made the branches rustle , so that my horse grew furious and rushed forward with me before I had time to see what sort of a devil it really was . '' `` You must not call it so , '' said the old fisherman as he crossed himself ; his wife did the same silently . Undine looked at the knight with sparkling eyes and said : `` The best of the story is that they certainly have not roasted him yet ; go on now , you beautiful youth ! ''