midnight
Hurry the men with the topmast . Heaven send us a cloudy night ! As soon as it is dark , we 'll alter our course . ' `` By dint of hard work , and a suspicion among the crew that the stranger was an unpleasant neighbour , we were all ataunto , as the sailors call it , before midnight , and were standing away before the light breeze . At daylight , the captain 's glass swept the horizon , and soon rested upon the object of his search . A long and steady gaze seemed to confirm both him and the mate in their first suspicion . The vessel , now considerably nearer us , had been evidently watching our motions , and was as evidently in pursuit of us .