midnight
Lois held her in her arms , and softly wiped the old brown wrinkled face with her apron , crying over it , as she had hardly yet cried over her own sorrows . For hours she tended the old Indian woman -- tended her bodily woes ; and as the poor scattered senses of the savage creature came slowly back , Lois gathered her infinite dread of the morrow , when she too , as well as Lois , was to be led out to die , in face of all that infuriated crowd . Lois sought in her own mind for some source of comfort for the old woman , who shook like one in the shaking palsy at the dread of death -- and such a death . When all was quiet through the prison , in the deep dead midnight , the gaoler outside the door heard Lois telling , as if to a young child , the marvellous and sorrowful story of one who died on the cross for us and for our sakes . As long as she spoke , the Indian woman 's terror seemed lulled ; but the instant she paused , for weariness , Nattee cried out afresh , as if some wild beast were following her close through the dense forests in which she had dwelt in her youth . And then Lois went on , saying all the blessed words she could remember , and comforting the helpless Indian woman with the sense of the presence of a Heavenly Friend . And in comforting her , Lois was comforted ; in strengthening her , Lois was strengthened .