midnight
And these fine young gentlemen were so bent on mischief that they pledged the `` ambassador '' and Mr. Tickler in bumpers , and with such rapidity that both were soon in a state of stupefaction . And for the nonce they laid the general full length upon the table . Mr. Tickler they placed in a sort of pillory with his hands and feet secured , his face painted most hideously , and the stuffed image of a huge Indian of savage aspect , fronting him , his spear poised . And now , when it was passed midnight ; when every snake in Buzabub had coiled himself up , shut his eyes and gone quietly to sleep ; when pestering centipedes , lizards , and cockroaches were gone peaceably to their holes ; and not even a monkey winked , lest he disturb the elements , which were hushed into perfect silence,-there might have been seen at the door of the inn no less an animal than old Battle , harnessed to a vehicle quite resembling those hearses used in the villages of New Jersey , and presenting in the pale moonlight a figure both forlorn and ludicrous . And this was further increased by a figure representing Death , mounted upon the poor animal , with his scythe and glass adjusted-the whole presenting a picture of death very like that described in Revelations as seated upon the pale horse . The face of the figure was deathly pale , his raiment was a sheet , and a tall , white cap was on his head ; and for the rest he was in his buff . On the hinder part of the vehicle a figure of Time was mounted ; while still another , representing the devil , was gravely mounted on a seat in front .