half past three
My head was pillowed upon Old Cuff 's side , the midshipman 's head was on my breast , and the rest of my earthly tabernacle was occupied as a bolster by as many of the quarter watch as could get near me . About two o'clock , I was suddenly awoke by the abduction of my living pillow , and the consequent collision of my head against one of the top burton-blocks . At the same time I heard a whizzing noise , like a rope running swiftly through a block , but none of us took much notice of it ; the midshipman growled some at my fidgeting about while fixing another pillow , but the absence of the captain of the top was not perceived . At seven bells , or half past three , the midshipman of the quarter deck hailed , `` Main-top there ! answer your musters , in the main-top . '' `` You had better keep awake in that main-top ; '' thundered the lieutenant of the deck , through his trumpet , `` you have lost one of your number already by your sleeping . '' All this was `` Hebrew Greek '' to us , but in a short time the sentry at the cabin door `` reported '' eight bells ; the larboard watch was called , the wheel , look-outs , and tops relieved , and the mystery of the loss of `` one of our number '' fully explained .