midnight
The coast , as far as he could see , overhung the sea or rose perpendicular to such a height as to make it inaccessible , except at one place where a rent in the wall allowed man to enter the almost sacred domain . The rude , picturesque huts of Mr. Pearce and his associates stood in a romantic valley , where the American told him had stood the `` castle '' of the Crusoe inhabitant of the island , Alexander Selkirk , whose strange story has been read the wide world over . Jack had been at the island nearly a week , and he was looking forward to an opportunity to go to the mainland in a few days , when Mr. Pearce informed him that something singular had transpired during the night . `` Though no vessel is in sight this morning , I am sure some one landed here last night between midnight and daylight . '' `` Do you think there is anything to fear from such a visit , providing some one has been here ? '' asked Jack . `` I do n't know .