midnight
Sometimes it happens that if you work long in a lonely house , you find yourself at night living in dread of some vague ill , and every crack of the woodwork is like an ominous message . It is just that way at sea before a bad gale . When Joe saw the moon beginning to paint the clouds with leprous hues , and the great ring grew wider and wider , he looked at the mainsail , and wished the trouble over . At midnight there came a sigh ; then a rattle of blocks , and then a big , silent wave came pouring along . Something was astir somewhere , and before long the Esperanza 's crew knew what was the matter . The last glare of wild-fire flushed the sky , and then down came the breeze . The Esperanza was as stiff as a house , but it made her lie over a little , and she roared along in fine style .