midnight
On the first excursion none of them had quite understood the other , and all of them except poor Ruggiero had been in the best of humours . Now they all understood one another too well , and they were silent and uneasy when together . They hardly knew why they were going , and San Miniato almost regretted having persuaded them . Doubtless the crabs were numerous along the rocky shore and they would catch hundreds of them before midnight . Doubtless also , the said crustaceans would be very good to eat on the following day . But no one seemed to look forward to the delight of the sport or of the dish afterwards , excepting Teresina and Bastianello who whispered together as they followed last . Ruggiero went in front carrying a lantern , and when they reached the pier it was he who put the party on board , made the skiff fast astern of the sailboat and jumped upon the stern , himself the last of all .