Midnight
Every officer in her complement had kept a private and personal lookout all day for some explanation of the previous night 's phenomenon . All that rewarded them were a sky filmed with lofty clouds , and the holiday parade of the epauletted waves . Nor did evening bring a repetition of that strange glow . Midnight found the late stayers still deep in the discussion . `` One thing is certain , '' said Ives . `` It was n't volcanic . '' `` Why so ? ''