the middle
of the night, about midnight
Under the weight of his sorrow he gradually dosed . For about two hours he remained in this state , feverish , sleeping a little , meditating much . Such torpors are accompanied by an obscure labour of the brain , which is inexpressibly wearying . Towards the middle of the night , about midnight , a little before or a little after , he shook off his lethargy . He aroused , and opened his eyes . His window was directly in front of his hammock . He saw something extraordinary .