midnight
My first visit to the spot was made in the gray of the morning . With a view of fishing , we had lowered three boats and pulling some two miles from our vessel , found ourselves just before dawn of day close under the moon-shadow of Rodondo . Its aspect was heightened , and yet softened , by the strange double twilight of the hour . The great full moon burnt in the low west like a half-spent beacon , casting a soft mellow tinge upon the sea like that cast by a waning fire of embers upon a midnight hearth ; while along the entire east the invisible sun sent pallid intimations of his coming . The wind was light ; the waves languid ; the stars twinkled with a faint effulgence ; all nature seemed supine with the long night watch , and half-suspended in jaded expectation of the sun . This was the critical hour to catch Rodondo in his perfect mood . The twilight was just enough to reveal every striking point , without tearing away the dim investiture of wonder .