about midnight
Lucky was it for the good ship that she had not been in this latitude a few hours earlier , when it had blown something very like a hurricane . The responsibility and danger of his situation now began seriously to disturb Captain Truck , although he kept his apprehensions to himself , like a prudent officer . All his calculations were gone over again with the utmost care , the rate of sailing was cautiously estimated , and the result showed , that ten or fifteen hours more would inevitably produce shipwreck of another sort , unless the wind moderated . Fortunately , the gale began to break about midnight . The wind still blew tremendously , but it was less steadily , and there were intervals of half-an-hour at a time when the ship might have carried much more canvas , even on a bowline : of course her speed abated in proportion , and , after the day had dawned , a long and anxious survey from aloft showed no land to the eastward . When perfectly assured of this important fact , Captain Truck rubbed his hands with delight , ordered a coal for his cigar , and began to abuse Saunders about the quality of the coffee during the blow . `` Let there be something creditable , this morning , sir , '' added the captain , after a sharp rebuke ; `` and remember we are down here in the neighbourhood of the country of your forefathers , where a man ought , in reason , to be on his good behaviour .