midnight
But the best sport of all is going out upon the great reef itself by torch-light . The natives follow this recreation with as much spirit as a gentleman of England does the chase ; and take full as much delight in it . The torch is nothing more than a bunch of dry reeds , bound firmly together : the spear , a long , light pole , with an iron head , on one side barbed . I shall never forget the night that old Marharvai and the rest of us , paddling off to the reef , leaped at midnight upon the coral ledges with waving torches and spears . We were more than a mile from the land ; the sullen ocean , thundering upon the outside of the rocks , dashed the spray in our faces , almost extinguishing the flambeaux ; and , far as the eye could reach , the darkness of sky and water was streaked with a long , misty line of foam , marking the course of the coral barrier . The wild fishermen , flourishing their weapons , and yelling like so many demons to scare their prey , sprang from ledge to ledge , and sometimes darted their spears in the very midst of the breakers . But fish-spearing was not the only sport we had at Loohooloo .