midnight
The huge grim gateway of the royal palace stood facing the end of the long , broad thoroughfare , and from where we stood we had an uninterrupted view of it . Our arrest was indeed a disaster when we seemed within an ace of success . The people regarded us indifferently as we were hurried up the hill towards the great stone arch with its massive watch-towers , and it appeared as though the swift decisive step of securing the ringleaders of the revolt had entirely crushed it , for the people , instead of showing defiance , shrank back from the soldiers , cowed and submissive . Suddenly , as we went forward , the great bell in one of the high turrets of the Naya 's stronghold boomed forth the first stroke of the midnight hour . Then , in an instant , a bright red flash blinded us , followed by a report so deafening , that the very rock whereon the city was built trembled , and we saw amid the dense smoke before us the great black gateway , with its watch towers where the sentries were pacing , break away , and shoot in huge masses high towards the sky . The explosion was terrific ; its effect appalling . The glare lit the whole city for a brief second with a light like a stormy sunset , then upon us showered great pieces of iron and stone with mangled human limbs , the _ débris _ of a gateway that for centuries had been considered absolutely impregnable .