Eleven o'clock
Some were so lit up that it seemed as if the windows were fiery eyes staring out of the darkness , and more than once we stopped to gaze in at some cranny where furnaces were kept going night and day and the work never seemed to stop . As we left the steam-engine part behind , the solitary stillness of our district seemed to be more evident ; and though we passed one policeman , I could not help thinking how very little help we should be able to find in a case of great emergency . Uncle Jack had chatted away freely enough as we went on ; but as we drew nearer to the works he became more and more silent , and when we had reached the lane he had not spoken for fully ten minutes . Eleven o'clock was striking and all seemed very still . Not a light was visible on that side , and the neighbouring works were apparently quite empty as we stood and listened . `` Let 's walk along by the side of the dam , Cob , '' said Uncle Jack . `` I do n't suppose we shall see anything , but let 's have a look how the place seems by night . ''