midnight
Gerald , who had been an amused listener of the preceding dialogue , soon followed , first inquiring into the condition of his faithful Sambo , who , on examination , was found to have been stunned by the violence of the blow he had received . This , Gerald doubted not , had been given with the view of better facilitating Desborough 's escape , by throwing the schooner out of her course , and occasioning a consequent confusion among the crew , which might have the effect of distracting their attention , for a time , from himself . The following evening , an armed schooner was lying at anchor in the roadstead of Buffalo , at the southern extremity of Lake Erie , and within a mile of the American shore . It was past midnight -- and although the lake was calm and unbroken as the face of a mirror , a dense fog had arisen which prevented objects at the head of the vessel from being seen from the stern . Two men only were visible upon the after deck ; the one lay reclining upon an arm chest , muffled up in a dread-nought pea jacket , the other paced up and down hurriedly , and with an air of deep pre-occupation . At intervals he would stop and lean over the gang-way , apparently endeavouring to pierce through the fog and catch a glimpse of the adjacent shore , and , on these occasions , a profound sigh would burst from his chest . Then again he would resume his rapid walk , with the air of one who has resolved to conquer a weakness , and substitute determination in its stead .