Midnight
Still , each time he went up and looked about , he found that the wind was stronger and the waves rolled higher . Meanwhile the captain , roused to a sense of duty , tried to enliven the passing hours by telling old tales , comical adventures , and strange sea legends . Soon the storm increased apace , and Milenko had to remain on deck ; but Uros , being tired and sleepy , was about to betake himself to rest . Midnight had just struck , and the hands of the clock were on twelve , a last cup was drained , and the three seamen having thus seen the old year out and the new year in , separated and each one went his own way . The clock withal was rather fast , and it was only some moments after they had separated from one another that the old year breathed its last . Before going to rest , Uros , who had slightly bruised his forehead just where Vranic had cut him with the stone , went to his chest and took out of it a small round tin looking-glass and opened it . He wished to see what kind of a scratch it had left , and if the scar were healing .