two in the morning
The cold seemed to grip his blood , for he had taken little good nourishment ; the vessel was helpless , and there was no shelter from the flying rivers of water that came over . Joe felt that strange , hard pain across the brows that seizes a man who has been long sleepless , and he could have dozed off had it not been for the continual breaking of the seas . He saw the Esperanza 's lights , and he wished that the boat could have been sent , if it were only to give him a little company . The rolling of the barque was awful at two in the morning , and , at last , one violent kick parted the mizen rigging on the starboard side . Then came one vast roll , and a ponderous rush of water , and with a tearing crash , the mast went over the side . Joe edged his way forward , and once more spoke to the gang in the forecastle . By dint of signs he made them understand that he wanted a hatchet , and he also contrived to let them know that they must go down unless the port rigging was severed .