midnight
_ '' '' _ Slainte _ , '' repeated Brian , and went forth to play his part . When the four men , with Red Murrough at their head , carried him down into the great hall , Brian found it no little changed . Tables were set along the walls , each of them being some ten feet in length by two wide , of massive oak , and in the center was another at which sat O'Donnell , Colonel Vere , and one or two other officers . Besides these there were a score more of the royalist officers mingled with the Dark Master 's men , and it seemed that there would be few sober men in that hall by midnight , from the appearance of things . Only the ten Scots stood calm and dour before the fireplace . After that first quick glance around , Brian lay with his head back and his eyes closed , careful not to excite O'Donnell 's suspicion that he was stronger than he seemed . He was set down in front of the ten Scots , and there was an eager craning forward of men to look at him , for his name was better known than himself .