two o'clock
The rider 's cloak was already soaked through , and soon even his shirt clung dank and cold to his aching back ; the bridle was slippery with the wet , and his numbed fingers could hardly feel its resistance as the mare went stumbling on her way . Beside horse and rider , Master Hymn-of-Praise Busy and Master Courage Toogood walked ankle-deep in mud -- one on each side of the mare , and lantern in hand , for the shades of evening would have drawn in ere the return journey could be undertaken . The two men had taken off their shoes and stockings and had slung them over their shoulders , for 't was better to walk barefoot than to feel the icy moisture soaking through leather and worsted . It was then close on two o'clock of an unusually bleak November afternoon . The winds of Heaven , which of a truth do oft use the isle of Thanet as a meeting place , wherein to discuss the mischief which they severally intend to accomplish in sundry quarters later on , had been exceptionally active this day . The southwesterly hurricane had brought , a deluge of rain with it a couple of hours ago , then -- satisfied with this prowess -- had handed the downpour over to his brother of the northeast , who breathing on it with his icy breath , had soon converted it into sleet : whereupon he turned his back on the mainland altogether , and wandered out towards the ocean , determined to worry the deep-sea fishermen who were out with their nets : but not before he had deputed his brother of the northeast to marshal his army of snow-laden cloud on the firmament . This the northeast , was over-ready to do , and in answer to his whim a leaden , inky pall now lay over Thanet , whilst the gale continued its mighty , wanton frolic , lashing the sleet against the tiny window-panes of the cottage , or sending it down the chimneys , upon the burning logs below , causing them to splutter and to hiss ere they changed their glow to black and smoking embers .