midnight
May you all sleep well . '' They made some merry laughing response , in which they were joined by their hosts , and then Tepi and I were alone . We put on the cabin hatches , spread out our sleeping mats and made ourselves comfortable for the night , and after half an hour 's smoke , we fell asleep too tired to talk . ***** À little after midnight the cool breeze suddenly died away , and both Tepi and myself awoke almost at the same moment . `` The air hath grown hot , and is hard to breathe , master , '' said the big man `` I fear a storm is near . '' It had indeed become very hot and stifling , but on looking at the barometer , I saw there was no change , and so felt no concern , for we were in an excellent position , no matter how hard , and from where it might blow . In half an hour or so , a few heavy splashes of rain fell , then a sudden shower , which necessitated us lifting off the hatch and going into the cabin , and it was then that Tepi complained to me of a severe headache , from which I was also beginning to suffer .