about three o'clock
in the morning
I liked my captain and officers very much ; and what was better , we took some good prizes . But somehow or other , I never had the luck to remain long in one ship , and that by no fault of mine ; at least , not in this instance . All went on as smooth as possible , until one day the captain took us on shore to a ball , at one of the peaceable districts . We had a very merry night of it ; but as luck would have it , I had the morning watch to keep , and see the decks cleaned , and as I never neglected my duty , I set off about three o'clock in the morning , just at break of day , to go on board of the ship . I was walking along the sands , thinking of the pretty girl that I 'd been dancing with , and had got about half way to the ship , when three rapparees of Spanish soldiers came from behind a rock and attacked me with their swords and bayonets . I had only my dirk , but I was not to be run through for nothing , so I fought them as long as I could . I finished one fellow , but at last they finished me ; for a bayonet passed through my body , and I forgot all about it .