midnight
Secondly , we hope our hero is justified from that imputation of want of resolution which must have been fatal to the greatness of his character . Our hero passed the remainder of the evening , the night , and the next day , in a condition not much to be envied by any passion of the human mind , unless by ambition ; which , provided it can only entertain itself with the most distant music of fame 's trumpet , can disdain all the pleasures of the sensualist , and those more solemn , though quieter comforts , which a good conscience suggests to a Christian philosopher . He spent his time in contemplation , that is to say , in blaspheming , cursing , and sometimes singing and whistling . At last , when cold and hunger had almost subdued his native fierceness , it being a good deal past midnight and extremely dark , he thought he beheld a light at a distance , which the cloudiness of the sky prevented his mistaking for a star : this light , however , did not seem to approach him , at least it approached by such imperceptible degrees that it gave him very little comfort , and at length totally forsook him . He then renewed his contemplation as before , in which he continued till the day began to break , when , to his inexpressible delight , he beheld a sail at a very little distance , and which luckily seemed to be making towards him . He was likewise soon espied by those in the vessel , who wanted no signals to inform them of his distress , and , as it was almost a calm , and their course lay within five hundred yards of him , they hoisted out their boat and fetched him aboard . The captain of this ship was a Frenchman ; she was laden with deal from Norway , and had been extremely shattered in the late storm .