midnight
Jacko pointed with his finger down the centre walk of the shed , and Harry , striking another match as he went , rushed forward . But the match was out as soon as ignited , and gave no glimmer of light . Nevertheless he saw , or thought that he saw , the figure of a man escaping out of the open end of the shed . The place itself was black as midnight , but the space beyond was clear of trees , and the darkness outside being a few shades lighter than within the building , allowed something of the outline of a figure to be visible . And as the man escaped , the sounds of his footsteps were audible enough . Harry called to him , but of course received no answer . Had he pursued him , he would have been obliged to cross sundry rails , which would have so delayed him as to give him no chance of success .