midnight
And still the host made on , and because of the narrowness of the space between river and wood it was strung out longer and looked a very great company of men . And moreover the men of the eastern-lying part of Mid-mark , were now marching thick and close on the other side of the river but a little way from the Wolfings and their fellows ; for nothing but the narrow river sundered them . So night fell , and the stars shone , and the moon rose , and yet the Wolfings and their fellows stayed not , since they wotted that behind them followed a many of the men of the Mark , both the Mid and the Nether , and they would by no means hinder their march . So wended the Markmen between wood and stream on either side of Mirkwood - water , till now at last the night grew deep and the moon set , and it was hard on midnight , and they had kindled many torches to light them on either side of the water . So whereas they had come to a place where the trees gave back somewhat from the river , which was well-grassed for their horses and neat , and was called Baitmead , the companies on the western side made stay there till morning . And they drew the wains right up to the thick of the wood , and all men turned aside into the mead from the beaten road , so that those who were following after might hold on their way if so they would . There then they appointed watchers of the night , while the rest of them lay upon the sward by the side of the trees , and slept through the short summer night .