midnight
That was just at sundown ; and half an hour after , in comes the gaoler to take a last look at us for the night , and his keys at his girdle . Whereon , sirs -LRB- whether by madness , or whether by the spirit which gave Samson strength to rend the lion -RRB- , I rose against him as he passed me , without forethought or treachery of any kind , chained though I was , caught him by the head , and threw him there and then against the wall , that he never spoke word after ; and then with his keys freed myself and every soul in that room , and bid them follow me , vowing to kill any man who disobeyed my commands . They followed , as men astounded and leaping out of night into day , and death into life , and so aboard that caravel and out of the harbor -LRB- the Lord only knows how , who blinded the eyes of the idolaters -RRB- , ` with no more hurt than a few chance-shot from the soldiers on the quay . But my tale has been over-long already , gentlemen -- '' `` Go on till midnight , my good fellow , if you will . '' `` Well , sirs , they chose me for captain , and a certain Genoese for lieutenant , and away to go . I would fain have gone ashore after all , and back to Panama to hear news of the little maid : but that would have been but a fool 's errand . Some wanted to turn pirates : but I , and the Genoese too , who was a prudent man , though an evil one , persuaded them to run for England and get employment in the Netherland wars , assuring them that there would be no safety in the Spanish Main , when once our escape got wind .