midnight
Hastily she rose , lifted the great bundle of straw upon which she had been kneeling and placed it on her head . She ran a few steps , then stumbled and sank down with a little moan of pain . In an instant we were at her side . She stared at us affrighted , for who we were she could not see because of the wide hoods of our common cloaks that made us look like midnight thieves , or slave-dealing Bedouin . `` Oh ! Sirs , '' she babbled , `` harm me not . I have nothing of value on me save this amulet . ''