ten minutes to
eleven in the evening
But night came on , and overshadowed the rough ocean . Now I thought our expedition was at an end , and that we should never again see the extraordinary animal . I was mistaken . At ten minutes to eleven in the evening , the electric light reappeared three miles to windward of the frigate , as pure , as intense as during the preceding night . The narwhal seemed motionless ; perhaps , tired with its day 's work , it slept , letting itself float with the undulation of the waves . Now was a chance of which the captain resolved to take advantage . He gave his orders .