midnight
While making this rapid flight , though the land still remained in view on her larboard beam , the fort and the groups of anxious spectators on its rampart were swallowed up in the mist . Then followed the evolutions necessary to bring the head of the cutter up to the wind , when she again began to wallow her weary way towards the north shore . Hours now passed before any further change was made , the wind increasing in force , until even the dogmatical Cap fairly admitted it was blowing a thorough gale of wind . About sunset the _ Scud _ wore again to keep her off the north shore during the hours of darkness ; and at midnight her temporary master , who , by questioning the crew in an indirect manner , had obtained some general knowledge of the size and shape of the lake , believed himself to be about midway between the two shores . The height and length of the seas aided this impression ; and it must be added that Cap by this time began to feel a respect for fresh water which twenty-four hours earlier he would have derided as impossible . Just as the night turned , the fury of the wind became so great that he found it impossible to bear up against it , the water falling on the deck of the little craft in such masses as to cause it to shake to the centre , and , though a vessel of singularly lively qualities , to threaten to bury it beneath its weight . The people of the _ Scud _ averred that never before had they been out in such a tempest , which was true ; for , possessing a perfect knowledge of all the rivers and headlands and havens , Jasper would have carried the cutter in shore long ere this , and placed her in safety in some secure anchorage .