midnight before
That I was bitterly disappointed -- and also somewhat frightened -- I freely admit ; for I had somehow succeeded in convincing myself that those terrifying sounds had issued from the throat of a human being so close at hand that I could not possibly fail to find him ; yet I had _ not _ found him ; had failed , indeed , to find the slightest suggestion of his presence ; and if those sounds had not a human origin , _ whence came they _ ? It was the mystery of the thing , as well as the weird , unearthly character of the cries , that sent a thrill of horror through the marrow , and made me almost madly anxious to find an explanation . I worked the boat to and fro athwart those few square yards of ocean for a full hour or more , and shouted myself hoarse , until I at length most unwillingly abandoned the search , and squared away to place as many miles as possible between myself and that unhallowed spot ere I attempted to sleep . It must have been past midnight before I had so far thrown off the feeling of horror induced by the uncanny experience that I have related as to admit of my contemplating seriously the idea of securing some rest ; and even when at length I did so , and had completed all my preparations , such as shortening sail and heaving-to , it was still some time before oblivion came to me . But when it did , it was complete , for the weather was fine and had a settled appearance , the boat lay-to most admirably and took perfect care of herself , and altogether I felt so absolutely safe that there seemed to be no need at all for that peculiar attitude of alertness during sleep to which I have already alluded ; my need of sound , refreshing slumber was great , and I lay down , determined to satisfy that need while the opportunity presented itself , and let myself go completely . Yet , although I had surrendered myself to sleep with the settled conviction of my absolute safety , and the feeling that my repose would continue until broken by the first rays of the morrow 's sun , I awakened suddenly while it was yet quite dark and when , as it seemed to me , I had only been asleep a very few minutes . And my awakening was not that of a person who gradually passes from sleep to wakefulness because he has enjoyed a sufficiency of rest ; it was an abrupt , instant transition from complete oblivion to a state of wide-awake , startled consciousness that caused me to leap to my feet and gaze wildly about me as my eyes snapped open to the star-lit heavens .