midnight
I had little hope , now , of saving Anne , as we reckon salvation in this poor earth-life ; but I could , and would , die with and for her ; and together , hand in hand , we would pass to the fuller , freer life beyond , where the mystery that encompassed her , and that had separated us , would vanish . I was about to cross the clearing , keeping to the right and seeking for the blazed tree , as Mishka had told me , when I heard the faint sound of stealthy footsteps through the wet grass that grew tall and rank here in the open . In the soft light a shadowy figure came from the opposite side , passed across the space , and disappeared among the further trees , followed almost immediately by two more . The time was now , as I guessed , after midnight , and these were late comers , who had been delayed by the storm , or perhaps , like myself , had had to dodge the patrol . I followed the last two in my turn , and at the place where they re-entered the wood I saw the gleam of the white blazes on the tree . I had struck the path right enough , and went along it confidently in the gloom of the trees , for perhaps a hundred yards , when a light flashed a few paces in front of me , just for a second , and I saw against the gleam the figures of the two men who were preceding me . They had passed on when I reached the place , and a hand grasped my shoulder , while the light was flashed in my face .