about midnight
`` And will be to-night , Señor ? '' At this last question , following so many pertinacious ones , for the soul of him Captain Delano could not but look very earnestly at the questioner , who , instead of meeting the glance , with every token of craven discomposure dropped his eyes to the deck ; presenting an unworthy contrast to his servant , who , just then , was kneeling at his feet , adjusting a loose shoe-buckle ; his disengaged face meantime , with humble curiosity , turned openly up into his master 's downcast one . The Spaniard , still with a guilty shuffle , repeated his question : `` And -- and will be to-night , Señor ? '' `` Yes , for aught I know , '' returned Captain Delano -- `` but nay , '' rallying himself into fearless truth , `` some of them talked of going off on another fishing party about midnight . '' `` Your ships generally go -- go more or less armed , I believe , Señor ? '' `` Oh , a six-pounder or two , in case of emergency , '' was the intrepidly indifferent reply , `` with a small stock of muskets , sealing-spears , and cutlasses , you know . '' As he thus responded , Captain Delano again glanced at Don Benito , but the latter 's eyes were averted ; while abruptly and awkwardly shifting the subject , he made some peevish allusion to the calm , and then , without apology , once more , with his attendant , withdrew to the opposite bulwarks , where the whispering was resumed .