midnight
A light gleamed in the yard and the _ starosta _ , yawning and blinking , appeared , holding a lantern and leading a horse . `` The horses are ready ? That is well , little father , '' Mishka said approvingly . `` They have been ready since midnight , and the samovar also ; you will drink a glass of tea , Excellencies . '' As he led out the other three horses in turn , a lad brought us steaming glasses of tea , and I was glad of mine , anyhow ; for the night , though still and clear , was piercingly cold . `` The horses will come on , with four more recruits , after a couple of hours ' rest , '' said Loris , as we started again . We kept up an even pace of about ten miles an hour till we had traversed about half the remaining distance , picking up more silent men on little shaggy country horses till we rode a band of some fifteen strong .