midnight
From obvious prudential considerations the Pacific has been principally sailed over in known tracts , and this is the reason why new islands are still occasionally discovered by exploring ships and adventurous whalers notwithstanding the great number of vessels of all kinds of late navigating this vast ocean . Indeed , considerable portions still remain wholly unexplored ; and there is doubt as to the actual existence of certain shoals , and reefs , and small clusters of islands vaguely laid down in the charts . The mere circumstance , therefore , of a ship like ours penetrating into these regions , was sufficient to cause any reflecting mind to feel at least a little uneasy . For my own part , the many stories I had heard of ships striking at midnight upon unknown rocks , with all sail set , and a slumbering crew , often recurred to me , especially , as from the absence of discipline , and our being so shorthanded , the watches at night were careless in the extreme . But no thoughts like these were entertained by my reckless shipmates ; and along we went , the sun every evening setting right ahead of our jib boom . For what reason the mate was so reserved with regard to our precise destination was never made known . The stories he told us , I , for one , did not believe ; deeming them all a mere device to lull the crew .