midnight
The horseman reined in as his jaded steed scrambled up the shelving bank , and for a space sat there motionless , for which the horse gave mute thanks . The moon was struggling to heave through fleecy clouds , as it was hard on midnight ; in the half obscurity the rider gazed around suspiciously . There was nothing in sight to cause any man fear . Behind him rippled the Dee , and all around was desolation . Ardee itself lay a good two miles in the rear , burned and laid waste six weeks before , and ten miles to the south lay Drogheda .