noon
The moon was up : we could see far before us ; we rode at full speed . Milestone after milestone glided by ; the carriage was not visible . We arrived at the post-town or rather village ; it contained but one posting-house . We were long in knocking up the hostlers : no carriage had arrived just before us ; no carriage had passed the place since noon . What mystery was this ? `` Back , back , boy ! '' said Roland , with a soldier 's quick wit , and spurring his jaded horse from the yard .