midnight
Throwing himself on his berth , he listened for a while to John 's sonorous snores , and before he was sensible of the danger of his position , he was sound asleep himself . Worn out by the labors of the day , he could no longer keep his eyes open . He woke with a start , -- for he was conscious that he had forsaken the post of duty , -- and hastened upon deck . Eight bells from the ship told him it was midnight . The wind had nearly subsided , but it rained very hard , and the heavy sea continued to break over the bow of the Fawn . John was still sleeping like a log , and Paul , though it was time for the larboard watch to be called , had not the heart to wake up his brother . As the gale had subsided , the boat seemed to be no longer in danger , and he decided to turn in and finish his nap .