midnight
Captain Pomery had taken in all canvas , to be as little conspicuous as possible ; and all that day we lay becalmed under bare poles . Not content with this , he ordered out the boat , and the two seamen -LRB- Mike Halliday and Roger Wearne their names were -RRB- took turns with Nat and me in towing the _ Gauntlet _ off the coast . It was back-breaking work under a broiling sun , but before evening we had the satisfaction to lose all sight of land . Still we persevered and tugged until close upon midnight , when the captain called us aboard , and we tumbled asleep on deck , too weary even to seek our hammocks . At daybreak next morning -LRB- Sunday -RRB- my father roused me . A light wind had sprung up from the shore , and with all canvas spread we were slipping through the water gaily ; yet not so gaily -LRB- doubted Captain Pomery -RRB- as a lateen-sailed craft some four or five miles astern of us -- a craft which he announced to be a Moorish xebec . The _ Gauntlet _ -- a flattish-bottomed ship -- footed it well before the wind , but not to compare with the xebec , which indeed was little more than a long open boat .