midnight
The breeze began gradually to freshen ; and , by the time we had swallowed our dinner , we were glad to get our stunsails and lofty sails in as fast as possible . A small dark cloud had appeared on the weather-beam , which gradually spread and spread , till the whole heaven was covered with an ominous darkness , and the wind increased so rapidly that there was barely time to execute the orders which followed each other in quick succession from the quarterdeck . Before one reef was taken in in the topsails , it was time to take in another ; the courses were reefed , the mainsail furled , the topgallantyards sent on deck . Before midnight , we were under reefed foresail and close-reefed driver ; and , before the morning watch , were hove to under stormstaysails . Tom had exerted himself greatly during the gale ; and , when aloft in the maintop , had been struck on the temple by one of the points of the topsail which was shaking in the wind while reefing . The blow , though from so small a rope , had stunned him ; and , when he recovered , he was obliged to be assisted down to his cot , where the doctor took a good quantity of blood from him . About this time , an epidemic disorder had shown itself among the crew , which spread rapidly , and in a short time our sick list amounted to six or seven-and-twenty .