midnight
French , English , and Irish , spoken alternately , or at the same moment -- created a degree of confusion which proved that the reins of government were held lightly by the captain in matters of small importance ; but , although there was a general freedom of manner , and independence of address , still his authority was acknowledged , and his orders implicitly obeyed . It was a ship 's company which _ pulled every way _ , as the saying is , when there was nothing to demand union ; but , let difficulty or danger appear , and all their squabbling was forgotten , or reserved for a more seasonable opportunity : then they all _ pulled together _ , those of each nation vying in taking the lead and setting an example to the other . Such was the crew of the lugger which McElvina commanded , all of whom were picked men , remarkable for their strength and activity . As the first mate had predicted , the wind fell light after midnight , and at dawn of day the lugger was gliding through the smooth water , at the rate of three or four miles an hour , shrouded in a thick fog . The sun rose , and had gained about twenty degrees of altitude , when McElvina beat to quarters , that he might accustom his men to the exercise of the guns . The rays of the sun had not power to pierce through the fog ; and , shorn of his beams , he had more the appearance of an overgrown moon , or was , as Phillips quaintly observed , `` like a man disguised in woman 's attire . '' The exercise of the guns had not long continued , when the breeze freshened up , and the fog began partially to disperse .