midnight
He would take her there , and would hire runners to carry up Pelliter 's medicines and his letters . Then he would go on -- with the woman -- and he laughed softly and joyously at the glorious news which he would take back to Pelliter a little later . For the kiss burned on his lips , the blue eyes smiled at him still from out of the firelit gloom , and he knew nothing but hope . It was late , almost midnight , when he went to bed . With the storm wailing and twisting more fiercely about him , he fell asleep . And it was late when he awoke . The forest was filled with a moaning sound .