midnight
Indeed , all he thought of was Katte , -- Katte and the lambs . He knew the way that the sheep-tracks ran ; the sheep could not climb so high as the goats ; and he knew , too , that little Stefan could not climb so high as he . So he began his search low down upon Martinswand . After midnight the cold increased ; there were snow-clouds hanging near , and they opened over his head , and the soft snow came flying along . For himself he did not mind it , but alas for the lambs ! -- if it covered them , how would he find them ? And if they slept in it , they were dead .