midnight
Not since that night had he looked with warm eyes on any woman . And he had been noted by other whites as notoriously cold toward pickanninnies white or black . But , having visioned the ultimate horror of memory , Van Horn was soon able to fall asleep again , delightfully aware , as he drowsed off , of Jerry 's head on his shoulder . Once , when Jerry , dreaming of the beach at Meringe and of _ Mister _ Haggin , Biddy , Terrence , and Michael , set up a low whimpering , Van Horn roused sufficiently to soothe him closer to him , and to mutter ominously : `` Any nigger that 'd hurt that pup ... '' At midnight when the mate touched him on the shoulder , in the moment of awakening and before he was awake Van Horn did two things automatically and swiftly . He darted his right hand down to the pistol at his hip , and muttered : `` Any nigger that 'd hurt that pup ... '' `` That 'll be Kopo Point abreast , '' Borckman explained , as both men stared to windward at the high loom of the land . `` She has n't made more than ten miles , and no promise of anything steady . '' `` There 's plenty of stuff making up there , if it 'll ever come down , '' Van Horn said , as both men transferred their gaze to the clouds drifting with many breaks across the dim stars .