midnight
Just then a gleam of moonlight struggled through the wrack of clouds , and revealed the dark cliffs of the Forfar coast , towering high above them . The vessel had struck on the rocks at the entrance to one of those rugged bays with which that coast is everywhere indented . t the first glance , the steersman knew that the doom of all on board was fixed , for the bay was one of those which are surrounded by almost perpendicular cliffs ; and although , during calm weather , there was a small space between the cliffs and the sea , which might be termed a beach , yet during a storm the waves lashed with terrific fury against the rocks , so that no human being might land there . It chanced at the time that Captain Ogilvy , who took great delight in visiting the cliffs in stormy weather , had gone out there for a midnight walk with a young friend , and when the privateer struck , he was standing on the top of the cliffs . He knew at once that the fate of the unfortunate people on board was almost certain , but , with his wonted energy , he did his best to prevent the catastrophe . `` Run , lad , and fetch men , and ropes , and ladders . Alarm the whole town , and use your legs well .