midnight
As he uttered the ominous word of _ Kudic _ he heard the earth groan under his feet . It is a terrible thing to hear the earth groan ; it does so just before an earthquake ! He did not dare to open his eyes ; he listened , awed , and then the faint sound of a distant bell fell upon his ears . It was midnight , and that bell seemed to be slowly tolling -- aye , tolling for the dead , the dead that groan in the bosom of the earth . A shiver came over him , big drops of cold sweat gathered on his forehead . He sniffed the cold night air ; it smelt earthy and damp , the scent of musk had quite passed away . At last he half-opened his eyes , to see if he could perceive anything of the young stranger .