midnight
It is near midnight , and amidst the growling and grinding of the machinery , the boats are moving on ! There is deep darkness upon the water , but this is no impediment . The red fires glow ; the blaze stands high above the tall funnels ; steam booms from the iron pipes ; the huge paddles lash the water into foam ; the timbers creak and tremble under the fierce pressure , and the boats move on ! It is near midnight . A space of two hundred yards alone separates the steamers -- the Belle is bounding upon the waves of the Magnolia . In less than ten minutes her head will overlap the stern of her rival . In less than twenty , and the cheer of victory rising from her deck will peal from shore to shore !