midnight
`` Well , strangers , '' he remarked with a grim smile , `` there 's a chance for you yet , you see . That 's one of them cursed frigates you was talking about this morning , colonel , but she 's a tarnation sight smarter 'n I gave any of 'em credit for being . I tell you , cap'n , if this had been the forenoon-watch instead of the first dog-watch it would have been all up with this brig. But now I do n't feel quite so sorter anxious as I did . I reckon that unless the breeze freshens , which it ai n't going to do , it will take that craft till midnight to get alongside of us ; and if she can do it then , why she 's welcome to the brig and all aboard of her , curse me if she ai n't . See them clouds gathering , away there to the nor ` ard ? That 's a thunder-storm working up , but it wo n't break for some hours yet , I calculate , and them clouds is going to do me a good turn before that . I reckon you 'll have to make up your minds to go to Albatross Island yet , strangers . ''