midnight
The near escape and this new quick pain made again every faculty alive and intense . He knew that what he followed was most surely Death animate : wounded and helpless , he was utterly at her mercy if so she should realise and take action . Hopeless to avenge , hopeless to save , his very despair for Sweyn swept him on to follow , and follow , and precede the kiss-doomed to death . Could he yet fail to hunt that Thing past midnight , out of the womanly form alluring and treacherous , into lasting restraint of the bestial , which was the last shred of hope left from the confident purpose of the outset ? `` Sweyn , Sweyn , O Sweyn ! '' He thought he was praying , though his heart wrung out nothing but this : `` Sweyn , Sweyn , O Sweyn ! '' The last hour from midnight had lost half its quarters , and the stars went lifting up the great minutes ; and again his greatening heart , and his shrinking brain , and the sickening agony that swung at either side , conspired to appal the will that had only seeming empire over his feet .