nearly an hour from
midnight
But on Christian by now the strain was telling palpably . His head weighed heavy , and his breath came labouring in great sobs ; the bear spear would have been a burden now . His heart was beating like a hammer , but such a dulness oppressed his brain , that it was only by degrees he could realise his helpless state ; wounded and weaponless , chasing that terrible Thing , that was a fierce , desperate , axe-armed woman , except she should assume the beast with fangs yet more formidable . And still the far slow stars went lingering nearly an hour from midnight . So far was his brain astray that an impression took him that she was fleeing from the midnight stars , whose gain was by such slow degrees that a time equalling days and days had gone in the race round the northern circle of the world , and days and days as long might last before the end -- except she slackened , or except he failed . But he would not fail yet . How long had he been praying so ?