midnight
`` Begging your pardon , sir , you are , '' said Tom ; and he took a few turns up and down , to return at last and find Mark quite fast . `` I knowed it , '' he said to himself , but he had hardly thought this when Mark started up again , vexed with himself , but unable to control the desire for rest . The consequence was that during the next two hours this natural process went on , the one who sat down going off instantly to sleep , while the other kept up his sentry-like walk , and no more words were uttered respecting it . They felt that it was nature 's work and accepted their position till toward midnight , when Mark was resting with his back to the bulwark , and his chin upon his breast , sleeping heavily , as he had been for about a minute . Tom Fillot stepped up lightly to his side and touched him . `` Yes ? What ? ''