midnight
they turned about and made for the shore . The night of our arrival , the mate and the Mowree were to stand `` watch and watch , '' relieving each other every four hours ; the crew , as is sometimes customary when lying at an anchor , being allowed to remain all night below . A distrust of the men , however , was , in the present instance , the principal reason for this proceeding . Indeed , it was all but certain , that some kind of attempt would be made at desertion ; and therefore , when Jermin 's first watch came on at eight bells -LRB- midnight -RRB- -- by which time all was quiet -- he mounted to the deck with a flask of spirits in one hand , and the other in readiness to assail the first countenance that showed itself above the forecastle scuttle . Thus prepared , he doubtless meant to stay awake ; but for all that , he before long fell asleep ; and slept with such hearty good-will too , that the men who left us that night might have been waked up by his snoring . Certain it was , the mate snored most strangely ; and no wonder , with that crooked bugle of his . When he came to himself it was just dawn , but quite light enough to show two boats gone from the side .