about 2 A.M.
He would not show me the tackle he intended using , so I was quite in the dark as to what manner of gear it was . But I ascertained later on that it was good and strong enough to hold any deep sea fish , and the hook was of the right sort -- a six-inch flatted , with curved shank , and swivel mounted on to three feet of fine twisted steel seizing wire . My obstinate friend had a keen eye , even when he was most disparaging in his remarks , and had copied my _ La ` heu _ tackle most successfully , although he had `` bosh-ed '' it when I first showed it to him . Refusing to let any one accompany him , although the local pilot candidly informed him that he was a dunderhead to go fishing alone at night in Apia Harbour , Marchmont started off about 2 A.M. in an ordinary native canoe , meant to hold not more than three persons when in smooth water . It was a calm night , but rainy , and the crew of the French gunboat noticed him fishing near the ship about 2.30 . A little while after , the officer of the watch saw a heavy rain squall coming down from the mountain gorges , and good-naturedly called out to the fisherman to either come alongside or paddle ashore , to avoid being swamped . The clever man replied in French , somewhat ungraciously , that he could quite well look after himself .