midnight
`` We had a prosperous voyage , and were actually in sight of shore , which the captain said we could not fail to reach early the next morning . I stayed , as usual , this night upon deck ; and solaced myself by smoking my pipe . Ever since I had indulged in this practice at the camp at El Arish , I could not exist without opium and tobacco . I suppose that my reason was this night a little clouded with the dose I took ; but , towards midnight , I was sobered by terror . I started up from the deck on which I had stretched myself ; my turban was in flames ; the bale of cotton on which I had rested was all on fire . I awakened two sailors , who were fast asleep on deck . The consternation became general , and the confusion increased the danger .