midnight
The crib in which my sister slept was placed in a large apartment outside Major and Mrs Clayton 's chamber , while beyond it were the sleeping-places of the nurses and other household domestics . It was used in the day-time as a sitting-room , and against the wall was a large and handsome mirror , and from the ceiling hung a lamp , which shed a soft and subdued light upon it . I am thus particular in describing the scene from the circumstances which follow . It was an hour or more past midnight , when Major Clayton was awakened , and from , to him , some unaccountable reason , he could not again compose himself to sleep . While he lay awake , he fancied that he heard a slight noise in the adjoining room , and throwing on his dressing-gown , he rose to discover what could have caused it . Think of his horror and amazement to see , in the centre of the apartment , as if about to spring on the cradle where the infant slept , a royal Bengal tiger of vast size ! In a moment it might have seized the child , and before any human aid could have availed , it might have carried her away into the wild jungle .