midnight
Then clasping her hands tightly , she called twice more her plea across the mere : `` Spirit of these waters , grant me life or death ! Oh , Spirit , grant me life or death ! '' There was a stir in the forest as she made an end , and she remained stock still , waiting and wondering . But though she knelt there till the moon had crossed the bar of midnight , nothing happened . Then the white hart , which had lain beside the water while she prayed , rose silently and drank ; and when it was satisfied , laid once more its muzzle on her hair and licked her cheek again and moved away . Not a twig snapped under its slender stepping . Its whiteness was soon covered by the blackness .