noon
A light gleamed up out of the darkness . `` Trotting Cob ! '' said he , and discoursed upon it till he pulled up his horses on their haunches exactly opposite a wide-open door , where the lamplight displayed a rudely-laid table and a bright fire , which seemed hospitably to beckon us in . The whole place was as wide awake as if it were noon instead of midnight . Ten minutes ' stay , and we were off again into the darkness , and then I prevailed upon the driver to tell me the tale of Trotting Cob . He told it in his own way . He interlarded his speech with strange oaths .