midnight
Still , there are six hours to run yet before midnight , and he may return even at the very last moment . Let us hope that he will . And now , men , give me some supper , for I have eaten nothing since I left you this morning . '' The time between then and midnight was passed by Dick in a state of feverish suspense , that toward the end became almost unendurable , causing him to start and jump at every trivial sound that reached his ear . A dozen times at least he sprang to his feet with the joyous exclamation of `` Here he is ! '' when the flutter of a dry leaf falling from its parent bough , the soft rustle of foliage in the night wind , or the movement of some restless bird broke the silence of that secluded spot ; but he was always mistaken . The Captain came not ; and at length his watch informed him that the time was half an hour after midnight .