midnight
Julien ate less sparingly at this second meal ; and smoked a long time on deck with Sparicio , who suddenly became very good-humored , and chatted volubly in bad Spanish , and in much worse English . Then while the boy took a few hours ' sleep , the Doctor helped delightedly in maneuvering the little vessel . He had been a good yachtsman in other years ; and Sparicio declared he would make a good fisherman . By midnight the San Marco began to run with a long , swinging gait ; -- she had reached deep water . Julien slept soundly ; the steady rocking of the sloop seemed to soothe his nerves . -- `` After all , '' he thought to himself , as he rose from his little bunk next morning , -- `` something like this is just what I needed . '' ... The pleasant scent of hot coffee greeted him ; -- Carmelo was handing him the tin cup containing it , down through the hatchway .