midnight
See , the scroll of the storm is rolled back ; the house is unharmed ; and in the blue heavens I read in the rainbow , that the Deity will not , of purpose , make war on man 's earth . '' `` Impious wretch ! '' foamed the stranger , blackening in the face as the rainbow beamed , `` I will publish your infidel notions . '' The scowl grew blacker on his face ; the indigo-circles enlarged round his eyes as the storm-rings round the midnight moon . He sprang upon me ; his tri-forked thing at my heart . I seized it ; I snapped it ; I dashed it ; I trod it ; and dragging the dark lightning-king out of my door , flung his elbowed , copper sceptre after him . But spite of my treatment , and spite of my dissuasive talk of him to my neighbors , the Lightning-rod man still dwells in the land ; still travels in storm-time , and drives a brave trade with the fears of man .