About nine o'clock
There were barrels and boxes and old canvas , and heaps of scrap iron , and some lead pipe , and coils of bad rope . Afterward I came on deck , and had supper and talked with Monson . He kept nudging me now and then , and saying , `` It 's that way ; '' and me answering , `` There 's reason in it , when it 's put that way . '' About nine o'clock I went below . By ten Monson and all the negroes were asleep , except two with the other white man on watch . I waited an hour , and then took a saw and a lantern , and crept from the cabin down the ladder to the hold . The sea was easy , though moving some , and slapping the ship 's sides and the hold was full of loud echoes , smelling bad , and very black beyond the space of lantern light , a slimy cold place , and full of sudden noises .