midnight
`` You are not like to die from that cause to-night , and I promise you blows enough and to spare . '' Cathbarr grunted and said no more . The last of the storm had fled away , and the two men rode through a glittering sunset and a clear , cold evening that promised well for the morrow . They traveled easily , and it was hard on midnight when a sentry stopped them half a mile from the hollow where the men were resting . Brian noted with approval that no fires had been lighted , and he and Cathbarr at once lay down to get an hour 's sleep among the men . Two hours before daybreak the camp was astir , and Brian gathered his lieutenants to arrange the attack . Thinking that the Dark Master would be in the castle , he and Cathbarr took a hundred men for that attack , ordering the rest to get as close to the camp as might be , but not to attack until he had struck on the castle , and to cut off the O'Donnells from their ships .