midnight
The fact that the camp was not to be left unguarded while they slept seemed to reassure Dolly , and she and Bessie were soon sound asleep . Only the noise of the light surf disturbed the intense stillness , and that had a soothing , musical quality that made it far from a disturbance to those who slept . But that peace was to be rudely shattered before the first watch was over . It was just after midnight when a wild tumult aroused the camp , and Bessie and Dolly , springing to their feet , saw that the beach was as light as day -- and that the light did not come from the camp fire . Confused and sleepy as they were , they saw the cause in a moment -- the big living tent , in which meals were to be eaten in case of rainy weather , was all ablaze , and the wind that had sprung up during the night was blowing the sparks to the other tents , which caught fire as the girls , frightened and almost panic stricken , rushed out . For a moment there was no concerted effort , but then Eleanor took command of the situation , and in a moment a line had been formed , and pails full of water from the sea were being handed from one girl to another . The yacht had sprung into life at the first sign of the fire , and now , as the girls worked , they heard the sound of oars , as boats were hurriedly pushed ashore .