midnight
A perfect battery of howls was leveled against him , and for a moment his ears were stunned with the deafening uproar . He determined , however , to solve the mystery . Giving the structure a push that brought it tumbling to the ground , he sprung back and held his rifle prepared for any foe , were he a four-footed or a two-footed one . Instead of either , what was his amazement to see a negro , as black as midnight , emerge from the ruins , and cringe at his feet . `` Oh , Mr. Injine , please do n't shoot ! please do n't kill me ! Nice , good Mr. Injine , do n't hurt me !