midnight
Then it was _ my _ plan that he should return with the boat , and perhaps these backward glances were no more than the shadows of coming events , cast , in his case , _ behind _ . Rupert was indisposed to converse , for , to tell the truth , he had eaten a hearty supper , and began to feel drowsy ; and I was too much wrapped up in my own busy thoughts to solicit any communications . I found a sort of saddened pleasure in setting a watch for the night , therefore , which had an air of seaman-like duty about it , that in a slight degree revived my old taste for the profession . It was midnight , and I took the first watch myself , bidding my two companions to crawl under the half-deck , and go to sleep . This they both did without any parley , Rupert occupying an inner place , while Neb lay with his legs exposed to the night air . The breeze freshened , and for some time I thought it might be necessary to reef , though we were running dead before the wind . I succeeded in holding on , however , and I found the Grace & Lucy was doing wonders in my watch .