four in the morning
And now I come to that portion of my story which fills me even now with a shuddering horror when I think of it . The main cabin had the rooms of the officers round it , but mine was the farthest away from it at the end of the little passage which led to the companion . No regular watch was kept by me , except in cases of emergency , and the three mates divided the watches among them . Armstrong had the middle watch , which ends at four in the morning , and he was relieved by Allardyce . For my part I have always been one of the soundest of sleepers , and it is rare for anything less than a hand upon my shoulder to arouse me . And yet I was aroused that night , or rather in the early grey of the morning . It was just half-past four by my chronometer when something caused me to sit up in my berth wide awake and with every nerve tingling .