midnight
At dinner Mr. Pike was quite distrait . He took no part whatever in the conversation , and seemed always to be listening to something from without -- to the vexing clang of taut ropes that came down the hollow jiggermast , to the muffled roar of the gale in the rigging , to the smash and crash of the seas along our decks and against our iron walls . Again I found myself sharing his apprehension , although I was too discreet to question him then , or afterwards alone , about his trouble . At eight he went on deck again to take the watch till midnight , and as I went to bed I dismissed all forebodings and speculated as to how many more voyages he could last after this sudden onslaught of old age . I fell asleep quickly , and awoke at midnight , my lamp still burning , Conrad 's _ Mirror of the Sea _ on my breast where it had dropped from my hands . I heard the watches change , and was wide awake and reading when Mr. Pike came below by the booby-hatch and passed down my hail by my open door , on his way to his room . In the pause I had long since learned so well I knew he was rolling a cigarette .