midnight
Could he yet fail to hunt that Thing past midnight , out of the womanly form alluring and treacherous , into lasting restraint of the bestial , which was the last shred of hope left from the confident purpose of the outset ? `` Sweyn , Sweyn , O Sweyn ! '' He thought he was praying , though his heart wrung out nothing but this : `` Sweyn , Sweyn , O Sweyn ! '' The last hour from midnight had lost half its quarters , and the stars went lifting up the great minutes ; and again his greatening heart , and his shrinking brain , and the sickening agony that swung at either side , conspired to appal the will that had only seeming empire over his feet . Now White Fell 's body was so closely enveloped that not a lap nor an edge flew free . She stretched forward strangely aslant , leaning from the upright poise of a runner . She cleared the ground at times by long bounds , gaining an increase of speed that Christian agonised to equal .