midnight
We soon reached the schooner and found ourselves the last aboard . In a few minutes the seals were skinned , boats and decks washed , and we were down below by the roaring fo ` castle fire , with a wash , change of clothes , and a hot , substantial supper before us . Sail had been put on the schooner , as we had a run of seventy-five miles to make to the southward before morning , so as to get in the midst of the seals , out of which we had strayed during the last two days ' hunting . We had the first watch from eight to midnight . The wind was soon blowing half a gale , and our sailing-master expected little sleep that night as he paced up and down the poop . The topsails were soon clewed up and made fast , then the flying jib run down and furled . Quite a sea was rolling by this time , occasionally breaking over the decks , flooding them and threatening to smash the boats .