about three in the
morning
His whole care was bestowed on the ship . Apprehension of falling in with some British cruiser , kept his eyes wide open , and his gaze constantly sweeping the horizon , so far as the obscurity would allow . I was incessantly on the alert myself , stealing up from the cabin , as far as the companion-way , at least a dozen times in the course of the night , in the hope of finding him asleep ; but , on each occasion , I saw him moving up and down the quarter-deck , in rapid motion , armed to the teeth , and seemingly insensible to fatigue , and all the other weaknesses of nature . It was useless to attempt to find him off his guard , and worn out , Marble and myself fell into deep sleep , about three in the morning , out of pure exhaustion . As for the two negroes they slept the entire night , waiting our summons for their rallying to the work . Neb , in particular , had all the absence of responsibility that distinguishes the existence of a slave , feeling very much the same unconcern as to the movements of the vessel , as any other human being feels in connection with those of the earth in which he is a passenger . It was ten o'clock when I awoke , refreshed , but disappointed .