midnight
As Duncan did not manifest the slightest regard for these kindly tokens , the major went quietly into the cabin , and there occupied himself for more than an hour furbishing up a sword of uncommon size , and a three cornered hat the moths had reduced to dilapidation , though he charged it all to the bullets of the Mexicans . And when they were polished to his entire satisfaction , and he had twice or thrice thanked God that it was not the failing of politicians to turn parsons , as it was with parsons to turn politicians , he lay down upon the locker and soon was in a sound sleep , in which he dreamed of a thousand or more things that were to take place in honor of him on the following day . The Saucy Kate was not long in gaining the commodore 's yacht , a rakish looking schooner of some two hundred tons , whose lofty spars and middle staysail were seen overtopping the sails of her lesser companions , like a giant among dwarfs . And although it was past midnight when Frank Story entered her cabin , he found it filled with members of the club , who , at the invitation of the commodore , had left their several yachts , and were making night jubilant over a table spread with choice wines , of which there was no stint . There were also massive punch bowls , of chased silver , standing here and there along the table , and filled with delicious punch , which those who preferred drank from goblets of silver and gold . Commodore Skim - merhorn , who sat at the head of the table , was a man of rotund figure , had a bright , ruddy face , and was frank and easy in his bearing . When he of the tall figure entered they were discussing a question of Greek criticism , some of the members of the club being men of much taste and learning .