midnight before
It was to the borders of this lake , that the necessity of seeking his own and his daughter 's safety , was now conducting Don Mariano de Silva . The journey proved long and arduous . The feebleness of Gertrudis would not permit her to travel fast , even in her easy _ litera _ ; and the bad state of the roads , which would scarce admit the passage of the mules , contributed to retard their advance . It was near midnight before they came within sight of the lake , -- its sombre waters suddenly appearing through an opening in the trees . At the point where they approached , it was bordered by a thick forest , whose dark shadowy foliage promised them an impenetrable asylum where they might pass the night safe from discovery or pursuit . In this forest Don Mariano resolved to make halt , and wait until the light of day might enable him to discover the crossing , by which , as his servant had assured him , they might reach the by-road leading to the hacienda of San Carlos . The short interval of bluish light between daybreak and sunrise in the tropics was nearly over , when Captain Lantejas and his two trusty followers climbed into their saddles to proceed towards the ford of the Ostuta .