midnight
boom ! boom ! from the tower above , every stroke sent a thrill through the heart of the youth . That dread hour , when , as men thought , the powers of darkness had the world to themselves , when a thousand ghosts shrieked on the hollow wind , when midnight hags swept through the tainted air , and goblins gibbered in sepulchres . Just then Hubert caught his father 's glance , and it made each separate hair erect itself : Like quills upon the fretful porcupine . `` Father , '' cried the boy , `` what art thou gazing at ? what aileth thee ?