midnight
Some one whispered , and Hillyard held up his hand for silence . Thus they sat immobile as figures of wax for the space of ten minutes . Then Hillyard relaxed from his attention . `` They must have got her plump with the first shot , '' he said ; and , indeed , there was no other explanation for that boom of a solitary cannon across the midnight sea . José Medina laughed . `` So the little Marteen had made his arrangements ? '' `` What else am I here for ? ''