midnight
And there he crouched , leaving the work of looking after the sail to his companion . Selfishness bulked large in his nature , and this was never more apparent than now . His own comfort was the first consideration , no matter how much others might suffer . After midnight the last clouds rolled away and the stars appeared . The gale subsided to a fair sailing breeze , and the `` Eb and Flo '' ploughed steadily on her way . Eben was tired as he stood hour after hour at the wheel , and he knew from the motion of the man tending the sail that he too was weary . There was nothing else , however , for them to do , and so without a word of complaint each kept at his task .