midnight
So they went running together , silent , towards the vast wastes of snow , where no living thing but they two moved under the stars of night . Never before had Christian so rejoiced in his powers . The gift of speed , and the training of use and endurance were priceless to him now . Though midnight was hours away , he was confident that , go where that Fell Thing would , hasten as she would , she could not outstrip him nor escape from him . Then , when came the time for transformation , when the woman 's form made no longer a shield against a man 's hand , he could slay or be slain to save Sweyn . He had struck his dear brother in dire extremity , but he could not , though reason urged , strike a woman . For one mile , for two miles they ran : White Fell ever foremost , Christian ever at equal distance from her side , so near that , now and again , her out-flying furs touched him .