midnight
Presently a large fish approached it , swimming near the surface of the water . When it was close to the Jack-o ' - lantern , or whatever it was , there was a splash , the fish turned up its white under side , and , the breeze being away from the raft , the fire-ball and its victim slowly floated off together . There were frequently a dozen of these great globules in sight at once , rising and descending , the observers noticing one peculiarity , viz. , that their brightness increased as they rose , and decreased as they sank . About two and a half hours after sunset , or midnight according to Jupiter time , they fell asleep , but about an hour later Cortlandt was awakened by a weight on his chest . Starting up , he perceived a huge white-faced bat , with its head but a few inches from his . Its outstretched wings were about eight feet across , and it fastened its sharp claws upon him . Seizing it by the throat , he struggled violently .