about ten at
night
* * * * * But the wedding never came off . That night Oppermann , in a frantic state , was tearing round Levuka hunting for his love , who had disappeared . At daylight , as the collier steamed ahead and tautened our tow-line , we could see the parties of searchers with torches scouring the beach . Our native sailors said they had heard a scream about ten at night and seen the sharks splashing , and the white liars of Levuka shook their heads and looked solemn as they told tales of monster sharks with eight-foot jaws always cruising close in to the shore at night . * * * * * Three days afterwards Allan came to me with stolid face and asked for a bottle of wine , as Vaega was very sea-sick . I gave him the wine , and threatened to tell the captain . He laughed , and said he would fight any man , captain or no captain , who meddled with him .