midnight
Beyond the white deserted deck , barred by the shadows of the standing rigging , he could see the door of the caboose . Suppose he should suddenly see a head pop out -- or , worse , a shadowy form go in ? He turned to the deck-house , where the children were sound asleep , and where , in a few minutes , he , too , was sound asleep beside them , whilst all night long the brig rocked to the gentle swell of the Pacific , and the breeze blew , bringing with it the perfume of flowers . When the fog lifted after midnight the people in the long-boat saw the quarter-boat half a mile to starboard of them . `` Can you see the dinghy ? '' asked Lestrange of the captain , who was standing up searching the horizon . `` Not a speck , '' answered Le Farge .