midnight
`` Arrogante was honest , faithful , and courageous . He was a strictly temperance dog , and would allow no one on the premises who was what is called worse for liquor . Many a time , according to his own confession , the bailiff who usually fed Arrogante was obliged to sleep on the ground outside the farm because he came home unsteady from too much drinking . `` On one occasion a couple of sailors , wishing to take advantage of the tide , came unexpectedly to the farm , soon after midnight , to take away some potatoes they had purchased from Mr. Rotch . But Arrogante would not consent to what he considered unlawful proceedings . He forced the men into an empty cart , and kept them there till morning . Once or twice they tried to put a foot over the side of the cart , but were convinced if they persevered the dog would kill them .