midnight
So I made a halt , and turned myself in the direction of the sun , which had meantime risen somewhat higher , and while I was looking up to observe it , I saw something black among the boughs of a lofty oak . My first thought was , ` It is a bear ! ' and I grasped my weapon . The object then accosted me from above in a human voice , but in a tone most harsh and hideous : ` If I , overhead here , do not gnaw off these dry branches , Sir Noodle , what shall we have to roast you with when midnight comes ? ' And with that it grinned , and made such a rattling with the branches that my courser became mad with affright , and rushed furiously forward with me before I had time to see distinctly what sort of a devil 's beast it was . '' `` You must not speak so , '' said the old fisherman , crossing himself . His wife did the same , without saying a word , and Undine , while her eye sparkled with delight , looked at the knight and said , `` The best of the story is , however , that as yet they have not roasted you !