midnight
Dave felt that he had made a point , and he did not carry his investigation of the auditory capacity of the scullion any farther that night . He finished his work below , and then went on deck . He lounged about in a very careless manner till eight bells were struck . Mr. Flint on the bridge was relieved by Mr. Lillyworth , and the port watch came on duty for the next four hours , or until midnight . This was the time the captain had indicated to Dave as a favorable one for the discharge of his special duty . Taking advantage of the absence of any person from the vicinity of the foremast , he adroitly curled himself up in the folds of the foresail , which was brailed up to the mast . He had his head in such a position that he could see without being seen by any casual passer-by .