midnight
whirra , but me brains is confuged intirely wid it all , '' said O'Riley , rising on his hind-legs and walking off with his tail , literally as well as figuratively , between his legs . `` Now , Buzzby , now ; it 's _ your _ time -- when you hear the word ` misery ' come on and fight like a Trojan with the bears . The doctor will remind you . '' Fred was remarkably patient and painstaking , and his pupils , though not apt scholars , were willing , so that the morning rehearsal was gone through with fewer mistakes than might have been expected , and when the crew came back to dinner about mid-day , which , however , was as dark as midnight , their parts were sufficiently well got up , and nothing remained to be done but to arrange the stage and scenery for the evening 's entertainment -- it having been resolved that the performance should commence after supper . The stage was at the after part of the cabin , and raised about a foot above the deck , and its management had been intrusted to the doctor , who , assisted by Peter Grim , transformed that portion of the ship into a scene so romantically beautiful that the first sight of it petrified the crew with surprise . But until the curtain should rise all arrangements were carefully concealed from everyone except the _ dramatis personae _ . Even the captain and officers were forbidden to peep behind the sail that formed a curtain to the stage , and this secrecy , besides being necessary , was extremely useful , inasmuch as it excited the curiosity of the men and afforded them food for converse and speculation , for a week before the great day arrived .