midnight
Two men were found to be missing , although , strange to say , they had not been missed up to the time that noses were counted . They were down on the ship 's roster as Norwegians , New York registry , and had come down with the Doraine on her trip from the north . Percival repeated his story , but had little to add in the way of detail . He had stolen on deck some time after midnight for a breath of air , risking detection , and from the shelter of a secluded corner well aft had heard the two men swabbing the deck below . Suddenly they ceased work , and he prepared to creep back to a place of safety , concluding that they were on their way to the upper deck . He went to the rail to listen . The two men were almost directly below him , and he could see the upper portions of their figures as they leaned far out over the rail , apparently looking into the swirling waters below .