midnight
Brandon began to see from the Captain 's manner that he expected something far more violent than any thing which the ship had yet encountered , but , thinking that his presence would be of no consequence , he retired at the usual hour . The deep , dense calm continued until nearly midnight . The watchers on deck still waited in the same anxious expectation , thinking that the night would bring on the change which they expected . Almost half an hour before midnight a faint light was seen in the thick mass of clouds overhead -- it was not lightning , but a whitish streak , as though produced by some movement in the clouds . All looked up in mute expectation . Suddenly a faint puff of wind came from the west , blowing gently for a few moments , then stopping , and then coming on in a stronger blast . Afar off , at what seemed like an immeasurable distance , a low , dull roar arose , a heavy moaning sound , like the menace of the mighty Atlantic , which was now advancing in wrath upon them .