midnight
Moreover , boats were out , silently patrolling hither and thither , ready to run in and report whatever signs of danger they might discover . The sea-scouts could not be everywhere , however , nor could they see everything . Somehow or other , an exceedingly important arrival passed by them all in the darkness . A little before midnight a solitary musket shot rang out at the seaward bastion of Fort Griswold , and the officer of the guard , with a party of soldiers , hurried to the spot to ascertain its meaning . `` Officer of the guard , '' responded the sentry to the formal hail , `` two American lights , seaward . Flash , flash , and cover . There they are again . ''