midnight
At 9 p.m. , being abreast of Littlehampton , and about eight miles off the shore , the _ Aurora _ went about once more , and stood over towards France , close-hauled on the starboard tack . The weather had cleared somewhat , the sun breaking through the clouds as the afternoon wore on , and flooding the whole western sky with splendour as he sank to rest . One by one , as the golden glory of the west faded into sober grey , the stars shone out , peeping shyly down upon the world from the softly dappled sky , and there was every prospect of its being a fine night in the Channel . George accordingly gave instructions for the ship to continue on the same tack until midnight , when she was to be hove about once more . Then , cautioning the second mate -- who was in charge of the deck -- to maintain a strict lookout and to call him in the event of a change of weather or the appearance of a suspicious-looking sail in their neighbourhood , he went below to snatch an hour or two of sleep , having had none so far from the moment of the vessel 's sailing . Flinging off his clothes , he threw himself into his swinging cot , and instantly sank into a sound and dreamless slumber ; to be awakened again with a start , and almost instantly , as it seemed to him , by the flapping of the ship 's canvas in the wind . Starting up into a sitting posture , he heard the voice of the chief mate on deck giving the necessary orders for tacking ship .