midnight
About five miles out of the town their road was crossed by a torrent , over which they could not hit the bridge . ` Forward ! ' cried the lady ; and Kate repeating the word to the horse , the docile creature leaped down into the water . They were all sinking at first ; but having its head free , the horse swam clear of all obstacles through the midnight darkness , and scrambled out on the opposite bank . The two riders were dripping from the shoulders downward . But , seeing a light twinkling from a cottage window , Kate rode up ; obtained a little refreshment , and the benefit of a fire , from a poor laboring man . From this man she also bought a warm mantle for the lady , who , besides her torrent bath , was dressed in a light evening robe , so that but for the horseman 's cloak of Kate she would have perished .