about twelve o'clock at night
It was beautiful ; they sung kind o ' mournful ; and Jack Hubbard , he would have it they was a-singin ' for the poor fellows that was a-lyin ' there round under the seaweed . '' `` But , '' said Mara , `` did you ever see an enchanter that could make storms ? '' `` Wal ' , there be witches and conjurers that make storms . ` Member once when we was crossin ' the line , about twelve o'clock at night , there was an old man with a long white beard that shone like silver , came and stood at the masthead , and he had a pitchfork in one hand , and a lantern in the other , and there was great balls of fire as big as my fist came out all round in the rigging . And I 'll tell you if we did n't get a blow that ar night ! I thought to my soul we should all go to the bottom . '' `` Why , '' said Mara , her eyes staring with excitement , `` that was just like this shipwreck ; and 't was Ariel made those balls of fire ; he says so ; he said he ` flamed amazement ' all over the ship . ''