about midnight
`` I only asked , '' continued the messenger , `` because I was told that some Hyrcanians who had revolted from the enemy came here , and went off with him to act as guides . '' -LSB- 12 -RSB- When Cyaxares heard that , he was the more enraged to think that Cyrus had never told him , and the more urgent to have his Medes removed from him at once , and he summoned them home under fiercer threats than ever ; threatening the officer as well if he failed to deliver the message in full force . -LSB- 13 -RSB- So the emissary set off with his troopers , about one hundred strong , fervently regretting that he had not gone with Cyrus himself . On the way they took a turning which led them wrong , and they did not reach the Persians until they had chanced upon some of the Assyrians in retreat and forced them to be their guides , and so at last arrived , sighting the watch-fires about midnight . -LSB- 14 -RSB- But though they had got to the camp , the pickets , acting on the orders of Cyrus , would not let them in till dawn . With the first faint gleam of morning Cyrus summoned the Persian Priests , who are called Magians , and bade them choose the offerings due to the gods for the blessings they had vouchsafed . -LSB- 15 -RSB- And while they were about this , Cyrus called the Peers together and said to them : `` Gentlemen , God has put before us many blessings , but at present we Persians are but a scant company to keep them .