midnight
Where he stood he was not distant above a quarter of a mile from the river , and the field before him ran down to the banks . This was the selected land of Giles Medlicot -- two years since a portion of his own run , which had now been purchased from the government -- for the loss of which he had received and was entitled to receive no compensation . And the matter was made worse for him by the fact that the interloper had come between him and the river . But he was not standing here near midnight merely to exercise his wrath by straining his eyes through the darkness at his neighbor 's crops . He put his finger into his mouth to wet it , and then held it up that he might discover which way the light breath of wind was coming . There was still the low moan to be heard continually through the forest , and yet not a leaf seemed to be moved . After a while he thought he caught a sound , and put his ear down to the ground .