three o'clock
A few hours may , at certain crises of the human mind and lot , do the work of years ; and this night carried on the education of the noble soul , long repressed by slavery , to a point of insight which multitudes do not reach in a lifetime . No doubt , the preparation had been making through years of forbearance and meditation , and through the latter mouths of enterprise and activity ; but yet , the change of views and purposes was so great as to make him feel , between night and morning , as if he were another man . The lamp burned out , and there was no light but from the brilliant flies , a few of which had found their way into the tent . Toussaint made his repeater strike : it was three o'clock . As his mind grew calm under the settlement of his purposes , he became aware of the thirst which his agitation had excited . By the light of the flitting tapers , he poured out water , refreshed himself with a deep draught , and then addressed himself to his duty . He could rarely endure delay in acting on his convictions .