a quarter after eleven
o'clock
But I took down his story , and reproduce it here , minus the technicalities and profanity with which it was interlarded . Briefly , Singleton 's watch began at midnight . The captain , who had been complaining of lumbago , had had the cook prepare him a mustard poultice , and had retired early . Burns was on watch from eight to twelve , and , on coming into the forward house at a quarter after eleven o'clock to eat his night lunch , reported to Singleton that the captain was in bed and that Mr. Turner had been asking for him . Singleton , therefore , took his cap and went on deck . This was about twenty minutes after eleven . He had had a drink or two earlier in the evening , and he took another in his cabin when he got his cap .