midnight
`` Night before last . '' `` And who brought word ? '' `` Dave Perkins , and he travelled like he -- , oh , I beg your pardon , like the wind . '' `` And got in at midnight . Why did n't he come to me at once ? I might have been on the way by this time . '' The man gave a slight start , and looked up quickly into the missionary 's face , but seeing no shadow of suspicion there , replied : `` We did n't know about it till this morning .