eleven
o'clock at night
In half an hour they came upon a broad road . `` This , '' the lad said , `` will take you to St. Nicholas . '' Ned gave the boy a crown for his trouble , and rode slowly along . He had no idea of entering St. Nicholas , for it was now nigh eleven o'clock at night , and the arrival of a traveller at such an hour would be sure to attract attention . The night , too , was dark , and he could scarce see the road he was following . After thinking it over for some time he dismounted , led his horse a distance from the road , fastened the reins to a bush , and threw himself down on the ground to wait for daylight . The night was cold , and a fine rain was falling .