midnight
Thenceforward , throughout the weary night , there was little to do save looking out and conning the ship . When a large cake of ice or berg was seen drifting perilously near , or bearing down upon the vessel , the word was passed along the deck from forward to aft and her head turned one way or the other , the yards of the mizzen-mast -- now the only ones left on the ship , with the exception of the fouled main-yard -- being squared or braced up to help her inclination to either side , which was also assisted by the loose mizzentop sail . This latter had only been hauled up by the clewlines and buntlines when sail was shortened , so as to be available to be dropped and sheeted home at a moment 's notice in any sudden emergency when it might be necessary to get way on the ship to prevent her running foul of some giant iceberg that was trying to overtake her . From midnight the only break in the monotony of the silent watch , throughout the anxious hours that elapsed before daylight , was the warning cry of the look-outs ' forward `` Ice ahead ! '' or `` Ice on the lee bow ! '' with the sailing directions of the captain to the steersman , quickly following the words of warning , `` Hard up with the helm ! '' or else , `` Keep her off a little , my man ! ''