midnight
The next in importance was the figure 3 , which he felt might be either A , or N , or S , since these , after E , are among the characters in English spelling most frequently employed . -LSB- Illustration : second message -RSB- On another clean chip of whittled wood he jotted down a few of the `` words '' with E 's in each instance substituted for the crosses , and then began attempting to make clear sense by substituting A 's , N 's , and S 's for the figure three , the figure one , and open squares , which , he found , had been often represented . It was a blind and tedious business . His fire burned low , in his absorption , and the midnight constellations marched past the zenith of the heavens before he finally realized the folly of his quest . `` It 's not a bit of good in the world , if I knew all about it , '' he finally confessed , `` no matter what it means . '' He went to bed . But he did not sleep .