Midnight
Sweyn lay fallen at his feet , where he had struck him down -- his own brother -- he : he stumbled over him , and had to overleap him and race harder because she who had kissed Sweyn leapt so fast . `` Sweyn , Sweyn , O Sweyn ! '' Why did the stars stop to shudder ? Midnight else had surely come ! The leaning , leaping Thing looked back at him with a wild , fierce look , and laughed in savage scorn and triumph . He saw in a flash why , for within a time measurable by seconds she would have escaped him utterly . As the land lay , a slope of ice sunk on the one hand ; on the other hand a steep rose , shouldering forwards ; between the two was space for a foot to be planted , but none for a body to stand ; yet a juniper bough , thrusting out , gave a handhold secure enough for one with a resolute grasp to swing past the perilous place , and pass on safe .