midnight
Up in the dimness and final darkness near the apex was security for any man . Windybank stole across the river meadow to the nearest house . The door stood open and the place was empty . The neighbouring house was in like condition , and a quick survey told him that the fisher-folk , hearing sounds of the fight , had gone down to learn what strange business was adoing at midnight . Master Andrew was deficient neither in caution nor in cunning . He acted promptly . A pantry was visited , and a loaf of bread abstracted .