midnight
`` A fair hit ! '' laughed the American ; `` I spoke without thought , but it will not touch the question of neutrality if you tell me how much longer we are likely to remain fast in the mud . '' `` You may be aware that we feel the ocean tide to some extent in this part of the Rio Rubio . Some time beyond midnight , if we do not drive farther upon the shoal , the tide will lift us clear . You may not have noticed , Major , that the screw has been driving us forward most of the time , instead of backward . It is doing so now , but with your permission , I will order the engineer to reverse . '' `` Well , I 'll be hanged !