midnight
He walked forth from Steens , leading his horse softly . At the foot of the lane he mounted , looked back in the darkness , and lifted a fist against the sky . Then they headed eastward , and rode , Malachi and he , over the soundless turf and through the fog , breasting the moor together . A little after midnight , on the high ground , they reined up , straining their ears at a rumbling sound borne up to them from the valley road below -- the sound -LRB- though they knew it not -RRB- of two cannon ploughing through the mire towards Steens . At eight o'clock next morning one of these guns opened fire , and with its first shot ripped a breach through the courtlage wall . There came no answer . When the Sheriff , taking courage , rode up to summon the house , its garrison consisted of two women and one sleeping babe .