about midnight
Most of the men had been busy over the landing of the cases and guns , and Fitz had thoroughly enjoyed the looking on , feeling a strange longing the while to go ashore and superintend the unpacking and putting together of the gun-limbers , and the mounting of the pieces . Not that there was a great deal to do , for , in obedience to instructions , the British manufacturers had sent the little field-guns with everything so simplified that the rough artillery-men from the Central American fort had few difficulties with which to contend . He saw little of Poole in the darkness , but knew that he was busy over something with a couple of men at his beck , while a third had had a duty of his own where a bright light had gleamed out and a little chimney had roared in a way which made Poole anxiously consult his father , who was superintending the landing of cases , when in their brief conversation something was said about sparks , and then a couple of tarpaulins were rigged up with lines , in a way which entirely cut off the galley from the rest of the deck . The result of all this was , that when the deck was clear and hatches replaced , the Camel stood smiling , with glistening face , for his work too was done , and the fresh provisions that had been abundantly brought on board by the women of the place were in a most welcome form for the half-starved , weary crew , and about midnight there was something as nearly like a banquet as could be expected under the circumstances , and to the delight of all . There had been no form ; the only ceremony had been for officers and men to sit down sailor or tailor fashion , cross-legged upon the deck , and eat as much as such men would . `` Hah ! '' said the boatswain , turning towards the two lads , after being very silent for quite half-an-hour .