midnight
The _ Unser Fritz _ was now heading southwest , and `` reeling off her ten knots an hour like clockwork , '' as Norrie put it . The Recife , that enormous barrier reef which blockades hundreds of miles of the Brazilian coast , caused no anxiety to Coke . He was well acquainted with these waters , and he held on stoutly until the occulting light of Maceio showed low over the sea straight ahead . It was then after midnight , and the land was still ten miles distant , but the ship promptly resumed her role of lame duck , lest a prowling gunboat met and interrogated her . As Coke had told Iris she might expect to be ashore about two o'clock , she waited until half-past one ere coming on deck . Despite her unalterable decision to abide by the hideous compact entered into with her uncle and Bulmer , her first thought now was to find Hozier . Though the sky was radiant with stars , a slight haze on the surface of the sea shrouded the ship 's decks and passages in an uncanny darkness .