midnight
There was something solemn in the close proximity of that tremendous element and the narrowness of the wooden barrier . The bare place , and the gentle , monotonous wash of the liquid monster , on that calm night , conveyed to Mr. Hazel 's mind a thought akin to David 's . `` As the Lord liveth , and as thy soul liveth , there is but a step between me and death . '' Judge whether that thought grew weaker or stronger , when , after straining his eyes for some time , to understand what was going on at that midnight hour , in that hidden place , he saw who was the workman and what was his occupation . It was Joseph Wylie , the mate . His profile was illuminated by the candle , and looked ghastly . He had in his hands an auger of enormous size , and with this he was drilling a great hole through the ship 's side , just below the water-mark ; an act , the effect of which would be to let the sea bodily into the ship and sink her , with every soul on board , to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean .