midnight
This snatch of conversation had occupied the shortest possible space of time . The fire had been discovered by the officials on board fully as soon as by our friends , and the men could be seen running hurriedly to and fro , all quiet and still , for they knew too well what the result would be if the alarm was communicated to the sleeping passengers . The pilot had headed the vast craft toward land , and by the furious throbbing of the engines it could be seen that the doomed vessel was straining to the utmost , like some affrighted , faithful horse striving to carry his master as nearly as possible to the port of safely ere he dropped down and died . It was fully midnight , and , as a matter of course , very nearly all the passengers were in their berths . There were a few , however , who were lingering on the promenade deck , some smoking -- here and there a couple of lovers all unconscious of everything else -- one or two avaricious speculators ; and but a few minutes could elapse before the startling danger should become known . The last words , which we have given as spoken by our friends , had scarcely been said , when a man , who apparently had been stretched out sound asleep , suddenly sprung up , wild with terror . `` The boat is on fire !