eight
o'clock
The work of mooring the ship was not a long one when once we had come to a stand . When all was done the noise ceased , and no one coming to me I went to bed as usual . On the next morning I got up at daybreak , and looked eagerly from my spying place ; but I could discern only a blank cliff of rock , the ship being now moored against the very side of it . The negro came to me at the usual hour , but he brought a note with my breakfast ; and I read an invitation to dine with Captain Black at eight o'clock on that evening . You may be sure that I welcomed even such a prospect of change , for the monotony of the cabin prison had become nigh unbearable ; and when at a quarter to eight that evening the old man threw open the door and said , `` The Master waits ! '' I went with him almost joyfully , even though the next step might have been to my open grave . He led the way up the companion ladder , which was , in fact , a broad staircase , elaborately lit with the electric light ; and so brought me to the deck , where there was darkness save in one spot above the fore-turret .