midnight
There is a little more southern air than there was , and they have gone up the lake -- '' Judith stopped , for , as the last word was on her tongue , the scene was suddenly lighted , though only for a single instant , by a flash . The crack of a rifle succeeded , and then followed the roll of the echo along the eastern mountains . Almost at the same moment a piercing female cry rose in the air in a prolonged shriek . The awful stillness that succeeded was , if possible , more appalling than the fierce and sudden interruption of the deep silence of midnight . Resolute as she was both by nature and habit , Judith scarce breathed , while poor Hetty hid her face and trembled . `` That was a woman 's cry , Hetty , '' said the former solemnly , `` and it was a cry of anguish ! If the ark has moved from this spot it can only have gone north with this air , and the gun and shriek came from the point .