midnight
Now , come along , dear . Be very careful how you walk , till we get down to the bottom . It is pretty steep and , if you were to set a stone rolling , we might have them after us , in no time . As it is , we shall only have an hour and a half start , for the sentries will be relieved at midnight . However , by that time we shall be on horseback , and of course they wo n't know which road we have taken . '' As soon as they came to level ground , they set off at a run . They were but a mile from the village when they heard , on the still night air , distant shouts , followed half a minute later by the winding of a horn ; then , almost immediately , a glimmering light appeared on the highest turret of the hold , and this rapidly broadened out into a sheet of flame .