midnight
A man would protrude his anxious head and a pair of eyes glistened in the sway of light glaring wildly . Some moved their legs a little as if making ready to jump out . But several , motionless on their backs and with one hand gripping hard the edge of the bunk , smoked nervously with quick puffs , staring upwards ; immobilised in a great craving for peace . At midnight , orders were given to furl the fore and mizen topsails . With immense efforts men crawled aloft through a merciless buffeting , saved the canvas and crawled down almost exhausted , to bear in panting silence the cruel battering of the seas . Perhaps for the first time in the history of the merchant service the watch , told to go below , did not leave the deck , as if compelled to remain there by the fascination of a venomous violence . At every heavy gust men , huddled together , whispered to one another , `` It can blow no harder , '' and presently the gale would give them the lie with a piercing shriek , and drive their breath back into their throats .