four o'clock in the morning
At last they ceased talking and fell fast asleep , leaving me awake , seated on a chest with my face bent over my knees between my hands . And there I sat , till at length the dull beating against the ship 's bows , and the silence around soothed me down , and I fell asleep as I sat . The next thing I knew , was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again . It was now four o'clock in the morning , and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east . The men were very sleepy , and sat down on the windlass without speaking , and some of them nodded and nodded , till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon . At last it was broad day , and an order was given to wash down the decks . A great tub was dragged into the waist , and then one of the men went over into the chains , and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds , and leaning over , began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope ; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand , he managed to fill the tub in a very short time .