about
midnight
But they had hardly been placed in position when a huge sea swept the Bolo from stem to stern , extinguishing them instantly . `` No use putting out any more , '' said Ben , `` we must trust to luck not to run across any vessels . I do n't think that we are in the steamer track anyway . '' But how wrong Ben 's words were they all realized when , at about midnight , Harry , who had the wheel , thundered on the cabin top and yelled at the top of his voice : `` All hands on deck . '' They tumbled out without waiting to don any more clothes than they had turned in with . The cause of the boy 's sudden summons was at once plain . Not half a mile from them were the red and green lights of an approaching steamer , and judging from the height they were out above the water , the vessel was a big one .