midnight
`` That 's right , '' said the Trapper with emphasis . `` Bravery ai n't so much not being scairt as going ahead when you are scairt , showing that you kin boss your fears . '' So they talked till they struck out of the gloom of the trees to the comparative light of the open field . `` It 's just fifteen minutes to midnight , '' said Caleb , looking at his watch with the light of a match , `` You 'll make it easy . I 'll wait here . '' Then Yan went on alone . It was a somber night , but he felt his way along the field fence to the line fence and climbed that into the road that was visible as a less intense darkness on the black darkness of the grass .