midnight
Ealhstan came up to me , unknowing of what had caused the halt , being over the brow of the hill , and when he knew , said it was well done , and that now we might rest safely for a time . So we bade the men sit down , and those who were wet made up the fire afresh : for there was no need to put it out , but rather reason for allowing the Danes to see it burning , as if in safety . When we three sat by the bishop , Wislac asked what we were to wait for , and , indeed , that must be the next thought . Then said the bishop that after a while he would take the force to the woods that overhung the roadway , and so wait for the Danes as Eanulf and Osric drove them back ; but that it was not more than midnight yet . Then came a little silence , and in that I seemed to hear the sound of footsteps coming up the hill from Combwich , and bade the others listen . And at the same time some of the men heard the sound , and started up to see who came . But they were the steps of one man only , walking carelessly .