About eight o’clock in the evening
As night drew on , the wind grew calmer , but the sea remained very rough . The moon had been up ever since four in the afternoon , though she only appeared at rare intervals between the clouds . Some long lines of vapour on the horizon were tinged with a rosy glare that foreboded a strong breeze for the morrow , and all felt anxious to know from which quarter the breeze would come , for any but a north-easter would bear the frail raft on which we were to embark far away from land . About eight o'clock in the evening Curtis mounted to the main-top but he seemed preoccupied and anxious , and did not speak to any one . He remained for a quarter of an hour , then after silently pressing my hand , he returned to his old post . I laid myself down in the narrow space at my disposal , and tried to sleep ; but my mind was filled with strange forebodings , and sleep was impossible . The very calmness of the atmosphere was oppressive ; scarcely a breath of air vibrated through the metal rigging , and yet the sea rose with a heavy swell as though it felt the warnings of a coming tempest .