eight o'clock
A HOSPITAL assistant , called Yergunov , an empty-headed fellow , known throughout the district as a great braggart and drunkard , was returning one evening in Christmas week from the hamlet of Ryepino , where he had been to make some purchases for the hospital . That he might get home in good time and not be late , the doctor had lent him his very best horse . At first it had been a still day , but at eight o'clock a violent snow-storm came on , and when he was only about four miles from home Yergunov completely lost his way . He did not know how to drive , he did not know the road , and he drove on at random , hoping that the horse would find the way of itself . Two hours passed ; the horse was exhausted , he himself was chilled , and already began to fancy that he was not going home , but back towards Ryepino . But at last above the uproar of the storm he heard the far-away barking of a dog , and a murky red blur came into sight ahead of him : little by little , the outlines of a high gate could be discerned , then a long fence on which there were nails with their points uppermost , and beyond the fence there stood the slanting crane of a well .