nearly midnight
He was young and handsome and well beloved ; he had fair estates and hosts of friends ; he might have risen high in the councils of his nation ; but death , stern and unyielding , claimed him , and he braced himself to meet it . `` Thank God ! '' he murmured ; `` I die with a clear conscience . '' I stayed with him till nearly midnight , when he became unconscious . Then having work to do , I sorrowfully went away . Next morning , on my way to the hut I met General Miller . `` Poor fellow ! ''