midnight
He saw a road turning from the main one , and leading deeper into the mountains . Instinctively he followed it , like an animal seeking hiding in the wilderness , and now the machine rose fast on the slopes , dense forest lining the way on either side . Far below in the valley the lights and the wireless signals talked incessantly to one another and the hounds were hot on the chase . It was about halfway between midnight and morning when John stopped the machine among dense pines on the very crest of a mountain , where the road , without any reason , seemed to end . Antoine awoke with a start and , springing out , began to curse himself under his breath for having gone to sleep . `` Take no blame , Antoine , '' said John . `` You could have done nothing then , and it was much better for you to have slept .