midnight
Such natures forget that under extreme provocation men will be just -- whether they want to be so or not . Donkin 's insolence to long-suffering Mr. Baker became at last intolerable to us , and we rejoiced when the mate , one dark night , tamed him for good . It was done neatly , with great decency and decorum , and with little noise . We had been called -- just before midnight -- to trim the yards , and Donkin -- as usual -- made insulting remarks . We stood sleepily in a row with the forebrace in our hands waiting for the next order , and heard in the darkness a scuffly trampling of feet , an exclamation of surprise , sounds of cuffs and slaps , suppressed , hissing whispers : -- `` Ah ! Will you ! '' ... `` Do n't !