about one o'clock in
the morning
But our mutual ill feeling did not greatly matter , for he was in the port watch and I in the starboard , so we very rarely met except when it was a case of `` all hands '' ; consequently we had not very much opportunity to quarrel . And in addition to the above we carried twenty cuddy passengers , of whom six were men , while the remainder consisted of nine ladies and five children . I am afraid the above details are not very interesting , but it is necessary to give them in order that the reader may fully understand what is to follow . As I have already mentioned , this story may be said to have had its beginning about two bells in the middle watch -- or about one o'clock in the morning -- on a certain specified date ; for until then there had been nothing out of the ordinary to distinguish the voyage from any other . But some five minutes after I had struck two bells , in accordance with the chief mate 's instructions , and the lookout on the topgallant forecastle had responded with the usual cry of `` All 's well ! '' one of the forecastle hands came slouching along aft , and , ascending the poop ladder with a certain suggestion of haste and trepidation , approached the mate . `` Will ye mind steppin ' for ` ard a minute , sir ? ''