one o'clock in the morning
Sometimes I tried to pierce the intense darkness that was only dispelled by the phosphorescence caused by our movements . I watched the luminous waves that broke over my hand , whose mirror-like surface was spotted with silvery rings . One might have said that we were in a bath of quicksilver . Near one o'clock in the morning , I was seized with dreadful fatigue . My limbs stiffened under the strain of violent cramp . Conseil was obliged to keep me up , and our preservation devolved on him alone . I heard the poor boy pant ; his breathing became short and hurried .