midnight
`` We certainly have said mean things about you , old Mote ! '' he went on sarcastically . `` Kindly forgive us and go . ` See by moonlight 't is ` most midnight , time boat and us were home hour-and-a-half ago , ' '' he said , quoting from the old nursery rhyme . But the motor only coughed and sighed and wheezed like an old man with the asthma , and the boat still drifted . They called , they blew on the compressed air whistle until all the reserve supply of oxygen was exhausted from the tank , and then they had to resort to their voices again . `` Well , there 's one thing left , '' answered Jack , tragically .