midnight
Did that Black Woman speak truly , I wonder ? And what dark magic was that which passed to-night ? '' But no answer came to his questions save that the cold stars chilled him to the bone . Since they had no better place to seek , they returned to Cathbarr 's tower , but it was long past midnight when they reached it , and the men were nodding in their saddles . As barely a dozen could crowd into the place , the rest were forced to camp outside in the snow , but roaring fires and some little food put them in good humor and it was no hardship to any of them . `` It has been a strange two days for us twain , '' said Brian as he and Cathbarr divided a scorched bannock one of the Scots had hastily turned out over the coals . `` Yes , '' smiled the giant into his beard , his deep-throated bull 's voice rumbling through their tiny room .