one in the morning
Just as the night turned , the fury of the wind became so great that he found it impossible to bear up against it , the water falling on the deck of the little craft in such masses as to cause it to shake to the centre , and , though a vessel of singularly lively qualities , to threaten to bury it beneath its weight . The people of the _ Scud _ averred that never before had they been out in such a tempest , which was true ; for , possessing a perfect knowledge of all the rivers and headlands and havens , Jasper would have carried the cutter in shore long ere this , and placed her in safety in some secure anchorage . But Cap still disdained to consult the young master , who continued below , determining to act like a mariner of the broad ocean . It was one in the morning when the storm-staysail was again got on the _ Scud _ , the head of the mainsail lowered , and the cutter put before the wind . Although the canvas now exposed was merely a rag in surface , the little craft nobly justified the use of the name she bore . For eight hours did she scud in truth ; and it was almost with the velocity of the gulls that wheeled wildly over her in the tempest , apparently afraid to alight in the boiling caldron of the lake . The dawn of day brought little change ; for no other horizon became visible than the little circle of drizzling sky and water already described , in which it seemed as if the elements were rioting in a sort of chaotic confusion .