midnight
She created her nocturnal world , even as she created her daily world , from the gnat which buzzes about the sleeper 's pillow to the lion prowling around the Arab 's bivouac . But Roland , the camp watcher , the sentinel of the desert , Roland , the hunter , the soldier , knew all those sounds ; they were powerless to disturb him . Then , mingling with these sounds , the tones of the clock , chiming the hour , vibrated above his head . This time it was midnight . Roland counted the twelve strokes , one after the other . The last hung , quivering upon the air , like a bird with iron wings , then slowly expired , sad and mournful . Just then the young man , thought he heard a moan .