about midnight
`` Well , we were abreast of Malta , when the weather , which had hitherto on the voyage been very fine , changed . The clouds hung down very heavy , and there was every symptom of a fierce gale ; and sure enough a worse gale I never was in than came on that night -- and such a sea ! -- the ship rolled gunnel under , for the gale was fair , but the sea ran so high and so fast that we expected to be pooped every minute . It was about midnight when the rain came on in torrents , and the wind blew fiercer than ever . I was on deck , and so was the first mate and another man at the helm , for we were flying right before it , and she was hard to steer . `` We shall have it worse yet , '' said the captain . '' ' _ Miaw _ ! '