midnight
Under the patchwork quilt the Governor lay motionless , dead from the waist down , only the desire in his eyes struggling to keep the spirit to the clay . Big Abel and the old negro made themselves a bed beneath the trees , and as they raked the dried leaves together the mournful rustling filled the little cabin . Then they lay down , the yellow dog beside them , and gradually the silence of the night closed in . After midnight , Dan , who had dozed in his chair from weariness , was awakened by the excited tones of the Governor 's voice . The desire was vanquished at last and the dying man had gone back in delirium to the battle he had fought beyond the river . On the hearth the resinous pine still blazed and from somewhere among the stones came the short chirp of a cricket . `` Oh , it 's nothing -- a mere scratch .