midnight
The rope about his neck seemed to work itself tighter ; there were moments when he had to struggle for the scant breath which the gag allowed him . He feared lest he should become insensible , and so perhaps be suffocated . His arms were entirely numbed ; he could not feel that he was lying on them . Surely Slimy 's emissary would come before midnight . `` One , two , three , four -- twelve ! '' How was it that he had lost all count of the hours since eight o'clock ? Whether that had been sleep or insensibility , Waymark could not decide .