midnight
And during and after his speech his vessel ploughed cheerily on , making as much way as she was adapted to accomplish . Shamus 's bosom felt lightened of its immediate terror , but not freed of apprehension for the future . The ship that was to sail in an hour haunted his thoughts ; he did not leave the deck , and , although the night proved very dark , his anxious eyes were never turned from the English coast . Unusual fatigue and want of sleep now and then overpowered him , and his senses swam in a wild and snatching slumber ; but from this he would start , crying out and clinging to the cordage , as the feverish dream of an instant presented him with the swelling canvas of a fast-sailing ship , which came , suddenly bursting through the gloom of midnight , alongside of his own . Morning dawned , really to unveil to him the object of his fears following almost in the wake of her rival . He glanced in the opposite direction , and beheld the shores of Ireland ; in another hour he jumped upon them ; but his enemy 's face watched him from the deck of the companion vessel , now not more than a few ropes ' lengths distant . Shamus mounted a second good horse , and spurred toward home .