two o'clock in the morning
One bell struck , and there they sat ; two bells , and there they still sat ; and there was but little conversation after this . Three bells struck , and they sat on , so motionless that Ishmael hoped they had fallen asleep on their watch and he refrained from addressing them . Four bells struck . It was two o'clock in the morning , and dead silence reigned in the ladies ' cabin . Everyone except Ishmael had gone to sleep . Suddenly through the stillness a cry rang -- a joyous cry . It was the voice of the man on the lookout , and it shouted forth : `` Land ho ! ''