midnight
Once out from under the lee of Gardiner 's Island , a heavier run of waves beset them , catching the boats almost squarely on the beam : fortunately a sea of long , smooth , slow shouldering rollers , as yet not angry . Now and again , for all that , one would favour the _ Trouble _ with a quartering slap that sent a shower of spray aboard her to drench Whitaker and swash noisily round the cockpit ere the self-bailing channels could carry it off . He was quickly wet to the skin and shivering . The hour was past midnight , and the strong air whipping in from the open sea had a bitter edge . His only consolation inhered in the reflection that he had companions in his misery : those who drove the leading boat could hardly escape what he must suffer ; though he hoped and believed that the woman was shut below , warm and dry in the cabin . Out over the dark waste to starboard a white light lifted , flashing . For a while a red eye showed beneath it , staring unwinkingly with a steadfast and sardonic glare , then disappeared completely , leaving only the blinking white .