about
midnight
Weary at last of the shore , and having some money left , they clubbed , and purchased a sail-boat ; proposing a visit to a certain uninhabited island , concerning which they had heard strange and golden stories . Of course , they never could think of going to sea without a medicine-chest filled with flasks of spirits , and a small cask of the same in the hold in case the chest should give out . Away they sailed ; hoisted a flag of their own , and gave three times three , as they staggered out of the bay of Papeetee with a strong breeze , and under all the `` muslin '' they could carry . Evening coming on , and feeling in high spirits and no ways disposed to sleep , they concluded to make a night of it ; which they did ; all hands getting tipsy , and the two masts going over the side about midnight , to the tune of `` Sailing down , sailing down , On the coast of Barbaree . '' Fortunately , one worthy could stand by holding on to the tiller ; and the rest managed to crawl about , and hack away the lanyards of the rigging , so as to break clear from the fallen spars . While thus employed , two sailors got tranquilly over the side , and went plumb to the bottom , under the erroneous impression that they were stepping upon an imaginary wharf to get at their work better . After this , it blew quite a gale ; and the commodore , at the helm , instinctively kept the boat before the wind ; and by so doing , ran over for the opposite island of Imeeo .