midnight
`` The river is over a mile wide , and too deep for snags and sawyers . '' `` It is cloudy now , and it will be very dark . We do n't run by courses here , and we may get into trouble in some way , though I confess I ca n't see how . '' `` We shall get to New Orleans by midnight , '' I added . `` What good will it do to get there by midnight ? As we approach the city there will be something to be seen , but our passengers ca n't see it in the night . If I understand the matter , we are in no hurry , and it makes no difference whether we get in to-night or to-morrow noon . ''