about ten o'clock
Soon after this it fell dark , the stars sparkled out one after another , lighting up the scene with their soft effulgence , the noises in the town became hushed , save for the occasional barking of a dog here and there , and a deep , solemn hush fell upon us , in which the deep , hoarse , tumbling roar of a whirl-pool at no great distance , and the gurgle and rush of the turbid river past the schooner 's hull became almost startlingly audible . But as long as we were able to see them the lines of native warriors still stood , silent and motionless , guarding the whole river front of the town . As a matter of precaution , I now ordered the boarding nettings to be triced up all round the ship , the guns to be loaded with grape and canister , the small arms to be prepared for immediate service , a double anchor-watch to be kept , and the men to hold themselves ready for any emergency , after the bustle of which preparations the schooner subsided again into silence and darkness , the men for the most part `` pricking for a soft plank '' on deck , and coiling themselves away thereon in preference to seeking repose in the stifling forecastle . As for Gowland and myself , we paced the deck contemplatively together until about ten o'clock , discussing the chances of getting away on the morrow , and then , everything seeming perfectly quiet and peaceful , we had our mattresses brought on deck , and stretched ourselves out thereon in the small clear space between the companion and the wheel . I had been asleep about two hours , when I was awakened by a light touch , and , starting up , found that it was one of the anchor-watch , who was saying -- `` Better go below , sir , I think , because it looks as though it was goin ' to rain . And Bill and me , sir , we thinks as you ought to know that we fancies we 've heard the dip o ' paddles occasionally round about the ship within the last ten minutes . '' `` The dip of paddles , eh ? ''