midnight
There was no snow and the lake had frozen crystal clear . The air was breathless . As she skated she chanted , to improvised tunes , bits of verse . `` The stag at eve had drunk his fill Where danced the moon on Monan 's rill And deep his midnight lair had laid In lone Glenartney 's hazel shade . `` I sprang to the stirrup , and Joris and he , I galloped , Dirk galloped , we galloped all three . ` Good speed ! ' cried the watch as the gate bolts undrew , ` Speed ' echoed the wall to us galloping through . ''