midnight
Then the conversation flagged . It was late when the Arkhipovs left , and Polunin accompanied them home . The last breath of an expiring wind softly stirred the pine - branches , which swayed to and fro in a mystic shadow-dance against the constellations . Orion , slanting and impressive , listed across a boundless sky , his starry belt gleaming as he approached his midnight post . In the widespread stillness the murmur of the pines sounded like rolling surf as it beats on the rocks , and the frozen snow crunched like broken glass underfoot : the frost was cruelly sharp . On reaching home , Polunin looked up into the overarching sky , searching the glittering expanse for his beloved Cassiopeian Constellation , and gazed intently at the sturdy splendour of the Polar Star ; then he watered the horses , gave them their forage for the night , and treated them to a special whistling performance . It struck warm in the stables , and there was a smell of horses ' sweat .