midnight
At any other time they would have taken an intense enjoyment in a place like this , where there were so many varied scenes ; but now their sense of enjoyment was blunted , for they carried in their minds a perpetual anxiety . None the less , however , did they wander about , penetrating up the valley , exploring the caverns , and traversing the cliffs . They did not return to the schooner till dusk . It would not be high tide till midnight , and so they prolonged their excursion purposely , so as to use up the time . On reaching the schooner they were welcomed by Captain Corbet . `` I declar , boys , '' said he , `` I 'm getting to be a leetle the biggest old fool that ever lived . It 's all this accident .