midnight
Slowly the carriage wound along through the deep sand . The monotonous sound , the unchanging motion , all rendered Otto sleepy . A falling star shot like a fire column across the sky -- this woke him for a moment ; he soon again bowed his head and slept , fast and deep . It was an hour past midnight , when he was awoke by a loud cry . He started up -- the fire burnt before them ; and between it and the horse stood two figures , who had taken hold of the leather reins . Close beside them was a cart , under which was placed a sort of bed , on which slept a woman and some children . `` Will you drive into the soup-kettle ? ''