about
midnight
Fortunately , as the day wore on , the wind moderated , until by nightfall it had dropped to such an extent that I was able to shake out first one reef and then the other , while with the moderating of the breeze the sea also went down until it was no longer dangerous . I had now had no sleep for thirty-six hours , consequently I felt in sore need of rest . I therefore hove-to the boat , coiled myself down , and instantly sank into a dreamless slumber . It must have been about midnight when I awoke . I at once let draw the fore-sheet , filled away upon the course I had decided upon , and kept the boat going for the remainder of the night . The ninth day of my boat voyage dawned pleasantly , with the wind still blowing a moderate breeze from the westward , a long , regular swell running , and no sea worth troubling about . The conditions were therefore quite favourable for a little experiment I desired to make .