midnight
There was no door in the cabin , and the windows were simply square openings , which freely admitted the searching fog . But in spite of these discomforts , -- being a man of cheerful , sanguine temperament , -- he amused himself by poking the fire and watching the ruddy glow which the flames threw on the fog from the open door . In this innocent occupation a great weariness overcame him , and he fell asleep . He was awakened at midnight by a loud `` halloo , '' which seemed to proceed directly from the sea . Thinking it might be the cry of some boatman lost in the fog , he walked to the edge of the cliff , but the thick veil that covered sea and land rendered all objects at the distance of a few feet indistinguishable . He heard , however , the regular strokes of oars rising and falling on the water . The halloo was repeated .