midnight
asked the stranger . `` No ! '' said Ali ; and he began to tell whence he came and whither he intended to go . The man replied , `` It seems as if the evil spirit is busy here , not merely at midnight , but also in the clear noon day . Follow me to the palm tree farthest from the spring there , and I will refresh you with a cooling draught . I live in the next village , where the water is still so bad that we are obliged to fetch our daily supply from the Tigris . All the pitchers and pipes which you see , are filled from the river of your native city .