midnight
He came inside as I rose and turned up the lamp so that its light shone full on his bald , bronzed head and deeply tatooed arms and shoulders . Laying down his polished staff of _ temana _ wood , he came over to me , placed his hand on my arm , patted it gently , and then his kindly old eyes sought mine . `` Be not dull of heart , _ taka taina _ . -LSB- 1 -RSB- A ship will soon come -- it may be to-morrow ; it must be soon ; for twice have I heard the cocks crow at midnight since I was last here , three days ago . And when the cocks crow at night-time a ship is near . '' `` May it be so , Pâkía , for I am weary of waiting . Ten months have come and gone since I first put foot on this land of Nukufetau , and a ship was to have come here in four . ''