about
midnight
And `` Heave round cheerly , men , '' sung out Navy Bob , dancing a hornpipe on the forecastle . TOWARD sunset , the mate came off , singing merrily , in the stern of his boat ; and in attempting to climb up the side , succeeded in going plump into the water . He was rescued by the steward , and carried across the deck with many moving expressions of love for his bearer . Tumbled into the quarter-boat , he soon fell asleep , and waking about midnight , somewhat sobered , went forward among the men . Here , to prepare for what follows , we must leave him for a moment . It was now plain enough that Jermin was by no means unwilling to take the Julia to sea ; indeed , there was nothing he so much desired ; though what his reasons were , seeing our situation , we could only conjecture . Nevertheless , so it was ; and having counted much upon his rough popularity with the men to reconcile them to a short cruise under him , he had consequently been disappointed in their behaviour .