midnight
Go to the further end of the camp , and I 'll tuck you up in the tarpaulin , put some food on board , and see that everything is shipshape . '' Smith was glad enough to avail himself of the opportunity of three or four hours ' continuous sleep on land . Rodier showed more reluctance , declaring that he was as fit as a fiddle ; but Captain Warren bore him away from the crowd of admirers , and stood over him until he , like his master , was sleeping soundly . A quarter of an hour before midnight the two airmen were awakened . Farewells were said , hands were shaken all round , every one wish them good luck , and precisely at twelve they took their seats and set forth on the two thousand miles flight to Samoa . A little before twelve on Monday , Herr Rudolph Schwankmacher , one of the most respected residents of Apia , capital of Samoa , was reclining under the shade of a plantain in his garden beyond the promontory of Mulinuu , enjoying the conversation of a friend and the refreshing bitterness of a bottle of light lager beer . The garden rose a few feet above the level of the ground in front of it , and afforded an excellent view over the sea .