ten o'clock
There were look-outs stationed forward , though , as we were supposed to be in the open sea , no danger of any sort was apprehended . Other ships might , by possibility , be crossing our course , but that was not likely ; and if , by any wonderful chance , we came near each other , we should probably see and be seen in time to prevent a collision . The larboard watch , to which I belonged , and of which Mr Dunning , the second lieutenant , was officer , had the first watch , namely , from eight o'clock till midnight . At four bells , or ten o'clock , it came to my turn to take my trick at the helm . The weather had become bitterly cold ; so I , with the rest , had donned all the warm clothing we could command . I had on a flannel shirt and drawers , with worsted hose and comforter , and over all a thick Flushing jacket and trousers ; a Welsh wig , under a south-wester , covered my head , and a thick pair of lined boots my feet , while my hands were encased in woollen mittens -- so that I little cared for the inclemency of the weather , provided I had not to face it . This I had to do while at the helm ; and I remembered Andrew 's account of the Moravian missionaries having their eyelids frozen together , and thought mine would suffer in the same manner .