midnight
Now , you go and lie down beside my son on the hatch . I 'll -- see to Van der Kemp . '' But Captain David Roy 's intentions , like those of many men of greater note , were frustrated by the hermit himself , who recovered consciousness just as the four men who carried him reached the foot of the companion-ladder close to the cabin door . Owing to the deeper than midnight darkness that prevailed a lamp was burning in the cabin -- dimly , as if , infected by the universal chaos , it were unwilling to enlighten the surrounding gloom . On recovering consciousness Van der Kemp was , not unnaturally , under the impression that he had fallen into the hands of foes . With one effectual convulsion of his powerful limbs he scattered his bearers right and left , and turning -- like all honest men -- to the light , he sprang into the cabin , wrenched a chair from its fastenings , and , facing round , stood at bay . Kathleen , seeing this blood-stained giant in such violent action , naturally fled to her cabin and shut the door .