midnight
And the two heavy guns -- one forward , the other aft -- were ready for action . The men stood at their posts -- had stood there now for two hours -- ever since _ The Hawk _ had crept silently from the friendly shelter of Bantry Bay . The crew had been ordered to silence and the crew of _ The Hawk _ , commanded by Lord Hastings , obeyed orders . So far _ The Hawk _ had come upon nothing that had justified its lonesome and silent vigil -- not an object of any kind had been encountered , and the hour was now after midnight . Still , keen eyes aboard the little craft peered untiringly ahead and swept the waters in all directions , trying to pierce the darkness of the night . The night , though dark , was perfectly calm and peaceful , albeit black , overhanging clouds heralded the approach of a storm . But Lord Hastings , than whom there were few better weather prophets , announced that the storm would not break before well along toward morning and held to his quest without trepidation .