midnight
They had deserted their master as soon as they were unobserved . So Valerius arrived alone at the pass , the nether or western end of which was guarded by two Goths , while two more filled the eastern entrance towards the enemy , and the other four kept the inner space . Scarcely had Valerius joined the two in front , when suddenly the tramp of horses was heard close at hand , and soon , round the next turning of the road , there appeared two horsemen , advancing at full trot . Each carried a torch in his right hand ; and these torches alone threw light upon the midnight scene , for the Goths avoided everything that could betray their small number . `` By Belisarius 's beard ! '' cried the foremost rider , checking his horse to a walk , `` this hen-ladder is here so narrow , that an honest horse has scarcely room in it ; and there is a hollow way or -- Halt ! What moves there ? ''