midnight
And there he showed them six immense steel axles and a dozen low iron wheels of enormous width which none had seen before ; and he told his crew how all unknown to the world his keel had been specially fitted for these same axles and wheels , and how he meant soon to sail to the wide Atlantic again , though not by the way of the straits . And when they heard the name of the Atlantic all his merry men cheered , for they looked on the Atlantic as a wide safe sea . And night came down and Captain Shard sent for his diver . With the sea getting up it was hard work for the diver , but by midnight things were done to Shard 's satisfaction , and the diver said that of all the jobs he had done -- but finding no apt comparison , and being in need of a drink , silence fell on him and soon sleep , and his comrades carried him away to his hammock . All the next day the chase went on with the English well in sight , for Shard had lost time overnight with his wheels and axles , and the danger of meeting the Spaniards increased every hour ; and evening came when every minute seemed dangerous , yet they still went tacking on towards the East where they knew the Spaniards must be . And at last they sighted their topsails right ahead , and still Shard went on . It was a close thing , but night was coming on , and the Union Jack which he hoisted helped Shard with the Spaniards for the last few anxious minutes , though it seemed to anger the English , but as Shard said , `` There 's no pleasing everyone , '' and then the twilight shivered into darkness .