midnight
The gentlemen-adventurers , puffed up with vain hopes of finding a new Mexico , became soon disappointed and surly at the hard practical reality ; while over all was the head of a sage and an enthusiast , a man too noble to suspect others , and too pure to make allowances for poor dirty human weaknesses . He had got his scheme perfect upon paper ; well for him , and for his company , if he had asked Francis Drake to translate it for him into fact ! As early as the second day , the seeds of failure began to sprout above ground . The men of Raleigh 's bark , the Vice-Admiral , suddenly found themselves seized , or supposed themselves seized , with a contagious sickness , and at midnight forsook the fleet , and went back to Plymouth ; whereto Mr. Hayes can only say , `` The reason I never could understand . Sure I am that Mr. Raleigh spared no cost in setting them forth . And so I leave it unto God ! '' But Amyas said more .