about three o'clock in
the morning
He stood a moment to reflect : -- `` Here am I , said he , freed from my local prison indeed , but in the midst of an enemy 's country , without a friend , without the means of obtaining one day 's subsistence , surrounded by the darkness of night , destitute of a single article of clothing , and even unable to form a resolution what step next to take . The ways of heaven are marvellous -- may I silently bow to its dispensations ! '' * * * * * Alonzo passed along the street in this forlorn condition , not knowing where to proceed , or what course to take . It was about three o'clock in the morning ; the street was illuminated by lamps , and he feared falling into the hands of the watch . For some time he saw no person ; at length a voice from the other side of the street called out , -- `` Hallo , messmate ! what , scudding under bare poles ? You must have experienced a severe gale indeed thus to have carried away every rag of sail ! ''