about midnight
I could just make out the roof . The chasm had come to an end and the tunnel had recommenced . And then there began another long , long night of danger and horror . To describe all its incidents would be too wearisome , so I will simply say that about midnight we struck on a flat projecting rock in mid-stream and were as nearly as possible overturned and drowned . However , at last we got off , and went upon the uneven tenor of our way . And so the hours passed till it was nearly three o'clock . Sir Henry , Good , and Alphonse were asleep , utterly worn out ; Umslopogaas was at the bow with the pole , and I was steering , when I perceived that the rate at which we were travelling had perceptibly increased .