midnight
`` To whom , when they had lost their way , a certain wonder happened , and a miracle , if it can be said that such would be worked in favor of men of blood . For while in the wild night and dark they wandered in the wood , a huge wolf met them , wagging his tail like a tame dog , and went before them on a path . And they , taking the gray beast in the darkness for a white dog , cheered on each other to follow him to his farm , which ought to be hard by . And in the silence of the midnight , that they might see their way , suddenly candles appeared , burning , and clinging to the lances of all the knights , -- not very bright , however ; but like those which the folk call _ candelae nympharum _ , -- wills of the wisp . But none could pull them off , or altogether extinguish them , or throw them from their hands . And thus they saw their way , and went on , although astonished out of mind , with the wolf leading them , until day dawned , and they saw , to their great astonishment , that he was a wolf . And as they questioned among themselves about what had befallen , the wolf and the candles disappeared , and they came whither they had been minded , -- beyond Stamford town , -- thanking God , and wondering at what had happened . ''