midnight
` Watch her . An ' Mr. Pike ... ' ` Yes , sir , ' says I. ` Give me a call , Mr. Pike , when the windlass shows signs of comin ' aft . ' That 's what he said , his very words , an ' the next moment , damme , he was snorin ' . '' * * * * * It is now midnight , and , cunningly wedged into my bunk , unable to sleep , I am writing these lines with flying dabs of pencil at my pad . And no more shall I write , I swear , until this gale is blown out , or we are blown to Kingdom Come . The days have passed and I have broken my resolve ; for here I am again writing while the _ Elsinore _ surges along across a magnificent , smoky , dusty sea . But I have two reasons for breaking my word .