nearly midnight
But the cook was a black ; master of strategy . He did not get the dories aboard till he had given the more striking points of the tale , explaining as he backed and bumped round the counter how Harvey was the mascot to destroy any possible bad luck . So the boys came override as rather uncanny heroes , and every one asked them questions instead of pounding them for making trouble . Little Penn delivered quite a speech on the folly of superstitions ; but public opinion was against him and in favour of Long Jack , who told the most excruciating ghost-stories , till nearly midnight . Under that influence no one except Salters and Penn said anything about `` idolatry , '' when the cook put a lighted candle , a cake of flour and water , and a pinch of salt on a shingle , and floated them out astern to keep the Frenchman quiet in case he was still restless . Dan lit the candle because he had bought the belt , and the cook grunted and muttered charms as long as he could see the ducking point of flame . Said Harvey to Dan , as they turned in after watch : `` How about progress and Catholic superstitions ? ''