midnight
He paced the deck nervously , and was constantly sweeping the horizon with his marine glasses . Not a boat was in sight . As sunset arrived , he even sent Chris aloft to the mizzen-topmast-head , but with no better luck . The boats could not possibly be back before midnight . Since noon the barometer had been falling with startling rapidity , and all the signs were ripe for a great storm -- how great , not even the sailing-master anticipated . He and Chris set to work to prepare for it . They put storm gaskets on the furled topsails , lowered and stowed the foresail and spanker and took in the two inner jibs .