midnight
It was a huge subterraneous cavern into which Onucz and Anicza had descended . At the bottom of this hollow flowed a branch of the mountain stream which turned the mill and indeed was diverted thither by means of wooden pipes . Here , however , it flowed in its regular bed , glistening here and there in the light of two oil lamps which burnt on both sides of a small iron bridge that traversed the stream . In the background of this hollow stood a peculiar , roofless , stone building , whose two round little windows , like the eternally watchful eyes of some underground worm , shone with a red glare which dazzled the eyes , while the slate-covered chimney belched forth a thick smoke filled with sparks into the subterranean midnight . From the interior of the building resounded heavy thuds and the din of grinding as of machinery in perpetual motion which made the very foundations of the rocks quiver . On the bridge stood another armed man with whom the new arrivals exchanged watchwords and the same thing was done at the door of the stone building where the old man made the girl stop . `` Now Anicza , '' said he , `` while I go in , you sit down on that stone bench and wait for me . ''