three o'clock in the
morning
A few days more , and no doubt the survivors of the `` Pilgrim '' would see the termination of their miseries . Self-sacrifice had been shared in by all , and if the young novice would not claim the greater part of it , Mrs. Weldon would demand its recognition for him . But on the 18th of July , during the night , an incident took place which compromised the safety of the party . Toward three o'clock in the morning a distant noise , still very low , was heard in the west . Dick Sand , very anxious , wished to know what caused it . While Mrs. Weldon , Jack , and Cousin Benedict slept in the bottom of the boat , he called Hercules to the front , and told him to listen with the greatest attention . The night was calm .