midnight
If there was no actual rebellion they never fired at those who had been condemned to death . And Tsiganok would gnash his teeth , would curse and spit . His brain thus racked on a monstrously sharp blade between life and death was falling to pieces like a lump of dry clay . When they entered the cell at midnight to lead Tsiganok to the execution he began to bustle about and seemed to have recovered his spirits . Again he had that sweet taste in his mouth , and his saliva collected abundantly , but his cheeks turned rosy and in his eyes began to glisten his former somewhat savage slyness . Dressing himself he asked the official : `` Who is going to do the hanging ? A new man ?