midnight
There was now no mistake about it . It was a regular boat , which Tom knew well to be the peculiar sound made by the floats of a steamer 's paddles . He had often heard it . He had but recently heard it , when the revenue steamer was approaching the Antelope , and again during the foggy night , when the whistle roused them , and the same beat of the paddles came over the midnight waters . And now , too , he heard it . He gave a shout of joy , and started off to catch sight of her . For a few paces only he ran , and then stopped .