one o’clock in the morning
Happily , the tarantass could be so placed that the storm might strike it obliquely . But the counter-currents , directed towards it by the slope , could not be so well avoided , and so violent were they that every instant it seemed as though it would be dashed to pieces . Nadia was obliged to leave her seat , and Michael , by the light of one of the lanterns , discovered an excavation bearing the marks of a miner 's pick , where the young girl could rest in safety until they could once more start . Just then -- it was one o'clock in the morning -- the rain began to fall in torrents , and this in addition to the wind and lightning , made the storm truly frightful . To continue the journey at present was utterly impossible . Besides , having reached this pass , they had only to descend the slopes of the Ural Mountains , and to descend now , with the road torn up by a thousand mountain torrents , in these eddies of wind and rain , was utter madness . `` To wait is indeed serious , '' said Michael , `` but it must certainly be done , to avoid still longer detentions .