Midnight
Or call him , if you will , an American Backwoodsman , who had to fell unpenetrated forests , and battle with innumerable wolves , and did not entirely forbear strong liquor , rioting , and even theft ; whom , notwithstanding , the peaceful Sower will follow , and , as he cuts the boundless harvest , bless . '' More legitimate and decisively authentic is Teufelsdrockh 's appearance and emergence -LRB- we know not well whence -RRB- in the solitude of the North Cape , on that June Midnight . He has a `` light-blue Spanish cloak '' hanging round him , as his `` most commodious , principal , indeed sole upper-garment ; '' and stands there , on the World-promontory , looking over the infinite Brine , like a little blue Belfry -LRB- as we figure -RRB- , now motionless indeed , yet ready , if stirred , to ring quaintest changes . `` Silence as of death , '' writes he ; `` for Midnight , even in the Arctic latitudes , has its character : nothing but the granite cliffs ruddy-tinged , the peaceable gurgle of that slow-heaving Polar Ocean , over which in the utmost North the great Sun hangs low and lazy , as if he too were slumbering . Yet is his cloud-couch wrought of crimson and cloth-of-gold ; yet does his light stream over the mirror of waters , like a tremulous fire-pillar , shooting downwards to the abyss , and hide itself under my feet . In such moments , Solitude also is invaluable ; for who would speak , or be looked on , when behind him lies all Europe and Africa , fast asleep , except the watchmen ; and before him the silent Immensity , and Palace of the Eternal , whereof our Sun is but a porch-lamp ? `` Nevertheless , in this solemn moment comes a man , or monster , scrambling from among the rock-hollows ; and , shaggy , huge as the Hyperborean Bear , hails me in Russian speech : most probably , therefore , a Russian Smuggler .