midnight
`` He 'll have to set his heart on helping wi ' the cargo after supper , '' said the Captain , drawing a small notebook and pencil from his pocket . A few more of the sweet and reviving influences of life now began to circle round the wanderers . Among them was the savoury odour that arose from the pot of bubble-um-squeak , also the improved appearance of the sky . It was night , almost midnight , nevertheless the sun was blazing in the heavens , and as the storm-clouds had rolled away like a dark curtain , his cheering rays were by that time gilding the icebergs , and rendering the land-cliffs ruddily . The travellers had enjoyed perpetual daylight for several weeks already , and at that high latitude they could count on many more to come . By the time supper was ready , the depressing influences were gone , and the spirits of all had recovered their wonted tone . Indeed it was not to the discredit of the party that they were so much cast down on that occasion , for the parting , perhaps for ever , from the friends with whom they had hitherto voyaged , had much more to do with their sadness than surrounding circumstances or future trials .