three o'clock in the morning
Ahead was a blank . He was in one of the most thickly populated regions of the world , crowded with cities , but in the darkness and storm it looked like a wilderness . Neither of his comrades spoke for a long time . He stole a look at his watch , and saw that it was three o'clock in the morning . They crossed two small rivers , foaming like torrents , and at the bridges reined into a walk , lest the hoof-beats be heard too far . But they did not meet any human being . Save for the road and the bridges the aspect of a wilderness was complete .