one in the morning
gasped , half choked himself , and took himself off . It now fell very dark , indeed . I have seldom , if ever , seen it darker , nor yet so dark . The moon was not due until one in the morning , and it was but a little after nine when our men lay down where they were mustered . It was pretended that they were to take a nap , but everybody knew that no nap was to be got under the circumstances . Though all were very quiet , there was a restlessness among the people ; much what I have seen among the people on a race-course , when the bell has rung for the saddling for a great race with large stakes on it . At ten , they put off ; only one boat putting off at a time ; another following in five minutes ; both then lying on their oars until another followed .