midnight
`` Now , Buzzby , now ; it 's _ your _ time . When you hear the word ` misery , ' come on and fight like a Trojan with the bears . The doctor will remind you . '' Fred was remarkably patient and painstaking , and his pupils , though not apt scholars , were willing , so that the morning rehearsal was gone through with fewer mistakes than might have been expected ; and when the crew came back to dinner about mid-day , which , however , was as dark as midnight , their parts were sufficiently well got up , and nothing remained to be done but to arrange the stage and scenery for the evening 's entertainment -- it having been resolved that the performance should commence after supper . The stage was at the after part of the cabin , and raised about a foot above the deck ; and its management had been intrusted to the doctor , who , assisted by Peter Grim , transformed that portion of the ship into a scene so romantically beautiful that the first sight of it petrified the crew with surprise . But until the curtain should rise all arrangements were carefully concealed from every one except the _ dramatis personæ _ . Even the captain and officers were forbidden to peep behind the sail that formed a curtain to the stage ; and this secrecy , besides being necessary , was extremely useful , inasmuch as it excited the curiosity of the men , and afforded them food for converse and speculation for a week before the great day arrived .