midnight
There was indeed little time left for deliberation . While Ralph was yet speaking , a dozen or more flaming brands were suddenly seen flung into the air , as if against the broken roof of the cabin , through which they fell into the interior ; and , with a tremendous whoop , the savages , thus lighting the way to the assault , rushed against their fancied prey . The next moment , there was heard a yell of disappointed rage and wonder , followed by a rush of men into the ravine . `` Now , sodger , '' cried Ralph , `` stick close to the trough ; and if you ever seed etarnity at midnight , you 'll see a small sample now ! '' With that , he pushed the canoe into the stream , and Roland , urging his terrified steed with voice and spur , and leading his cousin 's equally alarmed palfrey , leaped in after him , calling to Dodge and Emperor to follow . But how they followed , or whether they followed at all , it was not easy at that moment to determine ; for a bright flash of lightning , glaring over the river , vanished suddenly , leaving all in double darkness , and the impetuous rush of the current whirled him he knew not whither ; while the crash of the thunder that followed , prevented his hearing any other noise , save the increasing and never absent roar of the waters . Another flash illuminated the scene , and during its short-lived radiance he perceived himself flying , as it almost seemed , through the water , borne along by a furious current betwixt what appeared to him two lofty walls of crag and forest , towards those obstructions in the channel , which , in times of flood , converted the whole river into a boiling caldron .