midnight
She took the plaid from under him and spread it over his body to protect it from the snow . Then leaving the dog in charge of its dead master , she hurried first to the cottage to see if Mary Firth had returned . She wiped her hands of the blood that was on them , and made her way through the snow to Stromness . It was almost midnight when she arrived in the town , for her journey had been a long and a difficult one . All the houses were in darkness , and there was not a person to be seen in the deserted streets . She made her way to the schoolhouse , and after much trouble succeeded in arousing Andrew Drever . But when the door was opened she had not strength to speak .