midnight
While she was hurrying forward as rapidly as the darkness permitted , the lights were switched on with a suddenness that made her gasp . The dog began to bark again , but it was easy to distinguish his sharp yelps of excitement and defiance from the earlier notes of alarmed suspicion . In fact , Joey himself was the first to discover the stealthy approach of the Indians . Courtenay and Tollemache , who took the middle watch , from midnight to 4 A.M. , had failed to note the presence of several canoes on the ink-black surface of the bay until the dog warned them by growling , and ruffling the bristles on his back . The night was pitch dark ; the rising moon was not only hidden by the hills of the island , but frequent storms of rain and hail rendered it impossible while they raged to see or hear beyond the distance of a few feet . In all probability , as the canoes bore down from windward , Joey had scented them . He also gave the highly important information as to the quarter from which attack might be expected .