midnight
And the sea which Mayo surveyed was more lonely than ever , for the _ Ethel and May _ was standing off across the heaving surface toward the main and the hulk was left alone in the expanse of ocean . He felt very much of a pygmy and very helpless as he scrambled about over the icy decks . He remembered that faith can move mountains , but he was as yet unable to determine just what power would be able to move that steamer , into whose vitals the reef of Razee had poked its teeth . At eight bells , midnight , Mayo turned out of his berth , for he heard something that interested him . It was a soft pattering , a gentle swishing . As a mariner , he knew how sudden can be meteorological changes on the coast in winter . When the north winds have raged and howled and have blown themselves out , spitting sleet and snow , the gentler south winds have their innings and bear balmier moisture from the Gulf Stream .