midnight
These two were stiffs right enough , and their faces were evil , God knows , but they plainly were not to be classed as weaklings . I noticed them particularly that first watch below because they sat apart from the wrangling , cursing gang , and whispered to each other , and stared at Newman , who was lying in his bunk . They were medium sized men , as pallid of face as Newman , himself , and their faces gave one the impression of both slyness and force . A grim looking pair ; I should not have cared to run afoul of them on the Barbary Coast after midnight . I already knew the names they called each other -- the only names I ever knew them by -- `` Boston , '' for the blond fellow with the bridge of his nose flattened , and `` Blackie '' for the other , a chap as swarthy as a dago , with long , oily black hair , and eyes too close together . Even as I watched , they seemed to arrive at some decision in their whispered conversation . Blackie got up from the bench and crossed over to Newman 's bunk .