midnight
And more than that , '' he continued , taking up the glass and levelling it at the _ Dona Inez _ , `` I 'm blest if I do n't believe as we 're weatherin ' on her too . Take this glass , Mr Grenvile , and tell me whether you do n't think as we 've drawed up a bit closer to the commodore since eight bells struck . '' To humour the fellow I took the telescope , as requested , and certainly when I got the brig focused in the lens her image appeared to be more distinct and also perceptibly larger than it had been when I last looked at her . The hours sped on without change of any sort , except that when at length midnight arrived there was no longer any room to doubt that , since we had taken in our square canvas , and thus relieved the overdriven little hooker , we had steadily , if somewhat slowly , head-reached and weathered upon the commodore ; and then , as there seemed to be no prospect of any further news from our consort that night , I went below and turned in , leaving instructions that I was to be called at once , without fail , should anything occur to render necessary my presence on deck , or should the commodore exhibit any further signals . In less than five minutes I was fast asleep . I was awakened next morning by the loud knocking of the steward at my state-room door . `` Six bells , Mistah Grenvile , sah ; and here is your coffee , '' announced San Domingo , as he stood balancing the cup and saucer in his hand and swaying to the still lively movements of the schooner , although it struck me at once that she was not nearly so lively in her motions as she had been when I turned in at midnight .