midnight
The excitement had led to drinking , and I noticed that several of the passengers were already half intoxicated . The officers , too , led on by those , were indulging too freely , and even the Captain showed symptoms of a similar condition . No one thought of censure -- prudence had fled from the boat . It is near midnight , and amidst the growling and grinding of the machinery , the boats are moving on ! There is deep darkness upon the water , but this is no impediment . The red fires glow ; the blaze stands high above the tall funnels ; steam booms from the iron pipes ; the huge paddles lash the water into foam ; the timbers creak and tremble under the fierce pressure , and the boats move on ! It is near midnight .