midnight
`` We 've got the enterprise all right -- we 've got the will , and now all that 's needed is something for us to take hold of . '' `` That 's about so , '' Lyman agreed . `` Unless a man has something to lift , he can never find out how strong he is . '' And thus they talked until after the midnight hour , until Caruthers , his feet on a table , his head thrown back , his pipe between the fingers of his limp hand , fell asleep . Lyman sat there , more thoughtful , now that he felt alone . At the threshold of a new venture , we look back upon the hopes that led us into other undertakings , and upon many a failure we bestow a look of tender but half reproachful forgiveness . The trials and the final success of other men make us strong .