They heard somewhere in that tenantless night a bell that tolled and ceased where no bell was and they rode out on the round dais of the earth which alone was dark and no light to it and which carried their figures and bore them up into the swarming stars so that they rode not under but among them and they rode at once jaunty and circumspect, like thieves newly loosed in that dark electric, like young thieves in a glowing orchard, loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
The passage describes a haunting and surreal experience as the characters ride through a dark, empty night. They hear a bell tolling in the absence of any physical sound, which creates an eerie atmosphere. This moment captures their feeling of being alone on a vast, dark earth, against a backdrop of twinkling stars, conveying a sense of freedom and exploration as they venture forward.
McCarthy presents their ride as both daring and cautious, likening the riders to thieves enjoying the thrill of new possibilities in a beautiful, enchanting place. The imagery evokes a contrast between the cold darkness of their surroundings and the warmth of the stars, reflecting on the vast potential of the worlds around them as they embrace the adventure ahead.
