midnight
One soldier started to the right of the tree and the other to the left , so as to close in upon him and retake him . This was what he wanted , for he had them `` spread , '' and could deal with them singly . He used the Donovan tactics on the first guard , and they worked out with shameful ease . When the soldier saw the left coming for the pit of his stomach , he crouched and hugged himself , thereby extending his jaw so that it waited there with the sun shining on it until the young man 's right swing came across and changed the middle of the afternoon to midnight . Number one was lying in profound slumber when Alumnus Pike turned to greet number two . The second soldier , having witnessed the feat of pugilism , doubled his fists and extended them awkwardly , coming with a rush . Mr. Pike suddenly squatted and leaned forward , balancing on his finger-tips , until number two was about to fall upon him and crush him , and then he arose with that rigid right shoulder aimed as a catapult .