eight o'clock
it felt delightful ; for although my bones still ached , and I was very shaky on my legs , my head was better , and my spirits began to rise . I put on my pyjamas , went on deck , and had a look round . It was nearly dark , the rain had cleared off , a young moon was just lifting over the trees , and the little bay was as quiet as the grave -- except for the cries of a colony of flying foxes which lived in a big _ vi _ tree just a cable 's length away from the cutter . `` I knew that the New Britain and New Ireland natives do n't like going out after dark , and that if these people meant mischief to me , they would wait till just before daylight , when they would expect to find everyone on board asleep ; so , feeling much better and stronger , I turned in at eight o'clock , and slept till past midnight . I made some coffee , drank it , and laid down again , dozing off every now and then till just before dawn . Then I heard a sudden rush on deck , followed by the most diabolical howls and yells as twenty or thirty niggers jumped overboard with bleeding feet , many of them leaving their clubs lying on the deck . I put my head out of the cabin , and gave them half a dozen revolver shots , but I 'm afraid I did n't hit any of the beggars .