ten o'clock
Tranquil smiled at this recommendation ; but to please his friend , who had already laid himself down in his bunk , in the position of a man preparing to sleep , he wrapped himself in his zarapé , leant back in his chair , and closed his eyes . The night , which at the beginning had been very bright and clear , had suddenly become dark and stormy ; black clouds surcharged with electricity covered the whole of the sky ; the breeze moaned sadly in the rigging , and mingled with the dash of the waves against the sides of the vessel . The brig was sailing slowly close to the wind , the only sails it carried being double-reefed topsails , the fore staysail , and the spanker . At the moment when the helmsman struck the two double strokes on the bell , indicating ten o'clock , Captain Johnson and Tranquil appeared on deck . The Captain was dressed in a thick blue pilot coat , a leathern belt , through which were passed a cutlass , a pair of pistols and an axe , was fastened round his waist ; a cloak was thrown over his shoulders , and a broad-brimmed felt hat completely concealed his features . The Canadian wore his hunter 's garb , though , through the dangerous nature of the affair , he had added a brace of pistols to his ordinary armament . The Captain 's orders have been carried out with that minute consciousness which Master Lovel displayed in everything connected with duty .