midnight
Only once in the night did Arlington hear that demoniac gabble ; but he lay awake for hours expecting and dreading to hear it again . The owls were not so sparing of their vocal performances , scores of them joining in concert to serenade the lost man . Sometimes their prolonged notes sounded like the wail of a deserted babe , sometimes like mocking laughter , and again like a deep guttural snore . Nothing worse than mosquitos , dismal sounds , and the dank vapor of the swamp afflicted the weary man , who , falling asleep at midnight , slept so soundly that on waking late next morning he reproached himself for not having dreamed as usual of Evaleen Hale . `` How do you feel this morning , Jetty ? '' he said , patting his black horse . `` Are you well rested ?