an hour after midnight
Therewith was the dream done and the vision departed ; and Hallblithe sat up full of anguish and longing ; and he looked about him over the dreary land , and it was somewhat light and the sky was grown grey and cloudy , and he deemed that the dawn was come . So he leapt to his feet and stooped down over Fox , and took him by the shoulder , and shook him and said : `` Faring-fellow , awake ! the dawn is come , and we have much to do . '' Fox sat up and growled like a dog , and rubbed his eyes and looked about him and said : `` Thou hast waked me for nought : it is the false dawn of the moon that shineth now behind the clouds and casteth no shadow ; it is but an hour after midnight . Go to sleep again , and let me be , else will I not be a guide to thee when the day comes . '' And he lay down and was asleep at once . Then Hallblithe went and lay down again full of sorrow : Yet so weary was he that he presently fell asleep , and dreamed no more .