midnight
`` My friend runs fast , '' said Quentin to himself , `` but he must run faster yet , to escape the fleetest foot that ever pressed the heather of Glen Houlakin ! '' Being fortunately without his cloak and armour , the Scottish mountaineer was at liberty to put forth a speed which was unrivalled in his own glens , and which , notwithstanding the rate at which the Bohemian ran , was likely soon to bring his pursuer up with him . This was not , however , Quentin 's object , for he considered it more essential to watch Hayraddin 's motions , than to interrupt them . He was the rather led to this by the steadiness with which the Bohemian directed his course , and which , continuing even after the impulse of the violent expulsion had subsided , seemed to indicate that his career had some more certain goal for its object than could have suggested itself to a person unexpectedly turned out of good quarters when midnight was approaching , to seek a new place of repose . He never even looked behind him , and consequently Durward was enabled to follow him unobserved . At length , the Bohemian having traversed the meadow and attained the side of a little stream , the banks of which were clothed with alders and willows , Quentin observed that he stood still , and blew a low note on his horn , which was answered by a whistle at some little distance . `` This is a rendezvous , '' thought Quentin , `` but how shall I come near enough to overhear the import of what passes ?