eleven o’clock
A few of them , with Owen at their head , give no heed to what he says . Rushing to the poop , and seizing a cutlass , Curtis shouts again , -- `` Touch the tackling of the davit , one of you ; only touch it , and I 'll cleave your skull . '' Awed by his determined manner , the men retire , some clambering into the shrouds , whilst others mount to the very top of the masts . At eleven o'clock , several loud reports are heard , caused by the bursting asunder of the partitions of the hold . Clouds of smoke issue from the front , followed by a long tongue of lambent flame that seems to encircle the mizzen-mast . The fire now reaches to the cabin occupied by Mrs. Kear , who , shrieking wildly , is brought on deck by Miss Herbey . A moment more , and Silas Huntly makes his appearance , his face all blackened with the grimy smoke ; he bows to Curtis , as he passes , and then proceeds in the calmest manner to mount the aft-shrouds , and installs himself at the very top of the mizzen .