midnight
Now , upon my expressing admiration of the sight to Mistress Madison , she seemed greatly pleased , and told me that she had been up many times in the darkness to view it . And after that we went down again into the interior of the superstructure , and here the men were taking a further heave upon the big rope , before settling the watches for the night , the which they managed , by having one man at a time to keep awake and call the rest whenever the hawser grew slack . Later Mistress Madison showed me where I was to sleep , and so , having bid one another a very warm good-night , we parted , she going to see that her aunt was comfortable , and I out on to the main-deck to have a chat with the man on watch . In this way , I passed the time until midnight , and in that while we had been forced to call the men thrice to heave upon the hawser , so quickly had the ship begun to make way through the weed . Then , having grown sleepy , I said goodnight , and went to my berth , and so had my first sleep upon a mattress , for some weeks . Now when the morning was come , I waked , hearing Mistress Madison calling upon me from the other side of my door , and rating me very saucily for a lie-a-bed , and at that I made good speed at dressing , and came quickly into the saloon , where she had ready a breakfast that made me glad I had waked . But first , before she would do aught else , she had me out to the lookout place , running up before me most merrily and singing in the fullness of her glee , and so , when I had come to the top of the superstructure , I perceived that she had very good reason for so much merriment , and the sight which came to my eyes , gladdened me most mightily , yet at the same time filling me with a great amazement ; for , behold !