midnight
It was , in fact , he who over-persuaded Captain William Guy , urging him `` to profit by so tempting an opportunity of solving the great problem relating to the Antarctic Continent . '' And , besides , while accepting that responsibility , did he not congratulate himself on having been the instrument of a great discovery , and having aided in some degree to reveal to science one of the most marvellous secrets which had ever claimed its attention ? At six o'clock the sun disappeared behind a thick curtain of mist . After midnight the breeze freshened , and the _ Halbrane 's _ progress marked a dozen additional miles . On the morrow the good ship was less than the third of a degree , that is to say less than twenty miles , from Tsalal Island . Unfortunately , just after mid-day , the wind fell . Nevertheless , thanks to the current , the Island of Tsalal was signalled at forty-five minutes past six in the evening .