midnight
Her voice was strong , confident , steady , and patient . `` You can safely leave me until then . '' In another moment Rand was plunging down the `` slide . '' But it was past midnight when he struggled over the last bowlder up the ascent , dragging the half-exhausted medical wisdom of Brown 's Ferry on his arm . `` I 've been gone long , doctor , '' said Rand feverishly , `` and she looked SO death-like when I left . If we should be too late ! '' The doctor stopped suddenly , lifted his head , and pricked his ears like a hound on a peculiar scent .