midnight
Far away astern , at the end of a line no thicker than a black thread , which dipped now and then its long curve in the bursting froth , a toy-like object could be made out , elongated and dark , racing after the brig over the snowy whiteness of her wake . Lingard walked aft , and , with both his hands on the taffrail , looked eagerly for Carter 's boat . The first glance satisfied him that the yacht 's gig was towing easily at the end of the long scope of line , and he turned away to look ahead and to leeward with a steady gaze . It was then half an hour past midnight and Shaw , relieved by Wasub , had gone below . Before he went , he said to Lingard , `` I will be off , sir , if you 're not going to make more sail yet . '' `` Not yet for a while , '' had answered Lingard in a preoccupied manner ; and Shaw departed aggrieved at such a neglect of making the best of a good breeze . On the main deck dark-skinned men , whose clothing clung to their shivering limbs as if they had been overboard , had finished recoiling the braces , and clearing the gear .