midnight
The foolhardiness or ignorance of her officers was a prolific theme for comment whilst she remained in sight , and efforts were made to signal her to reduce sail in face of her danger . Before the night shut down she was seen with sails idly flapping as she gently rolled on the undulating swell of the sea , `` As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean . '' Shortly before ten o'clock the stillness of the air grew quite oppressive , and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard , and the band on the pier , with its lively French air , was like a discord in the great harmony of nature 's silence . A little after midnight came a strange sound from over the sea , and high overhead the air began to carry a strange , faint , hollow booming . Then without warning the tempest broke . With a rapidity which , at the time , seemed incredible , and even afterwards is impossible to realize , the whole aspect of nature at once became convulsed . The waves rose in growing fury , each overtopping its fellow , till in a very few minutes the lately glassy sea was like a roaring and devouring monster .