midnight
The negroes understood this sort of reasoning better than any argument I had used , and promised obedience . Had Mrs Tarleton , however , known beforehand of the arrangements I had made , I believe she would have countermanded them , so confident was she on all occasions of the success of her party . When any defeat had occurred , she evidently looked on it as an exception to the general rule , or rather as a means to the victorious termination of the strife . By the time I had made all the arrangements I had described it was past midnight . Some of the gentlemen retired again to their beds , but I with others sat up . My position was rather a curious one . Here was I , a guest in an enemy 's camp , with the prospect of an engagement , and unable to side with either party .