four o'clock
The thirty-third day out proved one of great importance to me . The wind had shifted to south-west , and it was blowing fresh , with very thick weather -- rain , mingled with a fine mist , that often prevented one 's seeing a quarter of a mile from the ship . The change occurred at midnight , and there was every prospect of the wind 's standing until it shoved us into the chops of the channel , from which we were then distant about four hundred miles , according to my own calculation . Marble had the watch at four o'clock , and he sent for me , that I might decide on the course to be steered and the sail to be carried . The course was N. N. East ; but , as for the sail , I determined to stand on under our top-sails and fore-course , spanker and jib , until I could get a look by daylight . When the sun was fairly up , there was no change , and I gave orders to get along some of the larger studding-sails , and to set the main-top-gallant sail , having my doubts whether the spars would bear any more canvass , under the stiff breeze that was blowing . `` This is no great distance from the spot where we surprised the Lady of Nantes , Captain Wallingford , '' Marble observed to me , as I stood overlooking the process of bending a fore-top-mast studding-sail , in which he was engaged with his own hands ; `` nor was the weather any thicker then than it is now , though that was a haze , and this is a mist . ''