midnight
The sky grew dark overhead as the night closed in , the wind shrieked through the rigging , and the rag of canvas that they ventured to hoist seemed about to burst away from the yard . It was an awful night . Such a night as causes even reckless men to feel how helpless they are -- how dependent on the arm of God . The gale steadily increased until near midnight , when it blew a perfect hurricane . `` It 's a dirty night , '' observed the captain , to the second mate , as the latter came on deck to relieve the watch . `` It is , sir , '' replied Mr Dicey , as coolly as if he were about to sit down to a good dinner on shore . Mr Dicey was a remarkably matter-of-fact man .