midnight
It was nearly a quarter of an hour afterwards that he was overtaken by the young knight and the little lady on their horses , just where the new road to the castle parted from the old way by the Eagle 's Ladder . The knight reined up as he saw the poor man 's slow , painful steps , and said , `` So thou art not bound for Schlangenwald ? '' `` I would to the village , so please you -- to the shrine of the Blessed Friedmund . '' `` Nay , at this rate thou wilt not be there till midnight , '' said the young knight , springing off his horse ; `` thou canst never brook our sharp stones ! See , Thekla , do thou ride on with Heinz to tell the mother I am bringing her a holy pilgrim to tend . And thou , good man , mount my old gray . Fear not ; she is steady and sure-footed , and hath of late been used to a lame rider .