about three o'clock in the morning
`` Very well , '' thought he , `` we 'll talk about this to-morrow morning . Short or Coble , I wonder which of the two -- pretty neglect of duty indeed -- report to the admiral , by heavens ! '' So saying , Mr Vanslyperken , with Snarleyyow at his heels , went down into the cabin -- undressed in the dark , for he would not let any one know that he was on board . It being about three o'clock in the morning , and Mr Vanslyperken being well tired with the events of the day , he was soon in a sound sleep . There will be no difficulty in accounting for the return of the dog , which had a skull much thicker than even the corporal 's . He had been stunned with the heavy blows , but not killed . After a certain time he came to himself in his bed of leaves , first scratched with one paw , and then with another , till his senses returned : he rose , worked his way out , and lay down to sleep .