about eight o’clock
Perhaps his case is one of those in which insanity is partial , and where the mania is of a character which extends only to the matters connected with his profession . Yet it is unaccountable . I can get nothing out of Curtis ; he listens coldly whenever I allude to the subject , and only repeats what he has said before , that nothing short of an overt act of madness on the part of the captain could induce him to supersede the captain 's authority and that the imminent peril of the ship could alone justify him in taking so decided a measure . Last evening I went to my cabin about eight o'clock , and after an hour 's reading by the light of my cabin-lamp , I retired to my berth and was soon asleep . Some hours later I was aroused by an unaccustomed noise on deck . There were heavy footsteps hurrying to and fro , and the voices of the men were loud and eager , as if the crew were agitated by some strange disturbance . My first impression was , that some tacking had been ordered which rendered it needful to fathom the yards ; but the vessel continuing to lie to starboard convinced me that this was not the origin of the commotion , I was curious to know the truth , and made all haste I could to go on deck ; but before I was ready , the noise had ceased .