midnight
`` It is the better chance , '' he explained , grimly , `` for my getting a face-to-face look at the old , gray wolf . '' Fortunately , the question of transportation for the river party was quickly settled . One of Messer Hugolin 's flat-boats , coming down from the upper river with a cargo of hides , had anchored for the night a half-mile up-stream ; it was an easy matter to impress crew and vessel into service . The hides were tossed ashore , and by midnight the expedition was ready to start . The scow was fitted with two masts , carrying square sails , and , as the wind was directly astern and blowing strongly , the clumsy craft swept away from her moorings with imposing animation , leaving a full half-acre of bubbles to mark her wake . `` For the third time , '' said Constans to himself as he sat in the bow with his back to the squat foremast and watched the river flowing darkly by . Twice now had he measured strength with Doom the Forbidden , and twice had the battle been drawn , the issue left undecided .