midnight
Inaudible words escaped at intervals from his lips , bearing upon various incidents of his checkered career . Life was evidently ebbing slowly and his extremities were already cold . Once or twice more he spoke to the colonists who stood around him , and smiled on them with that last smile which continues after death . At length , shortly after midnight , Captain Nemo by a supreme effort succeeded in folding his arms across his breast , as if wishing in that attitude to compose himself for death . By one o'clock his glance alone showed signs of life . A dying light gleamed in those eyes once so brilliant . Then , murmuring the words , `` God and my country ! ''