midnight
After this was done , I was compelled to consent to a plan long cherished by Fritz , who wished to construct a watch-tower and mount a gun on Shark Island . After great exertion , both mental and bodily , this piece of military engineering was completed ; and a flagstaff erected , on which the guard at this outpost could run up a white flag to signal the approach of anything harmless from the sea , while a red flag would be shown on the least appearance of danger . To celebrate the completion of this great work , which occupied us during two months , we hoisted the white flag , and fired a salute of six guns . Ten years afterward -- Our farms and farmyards -- Fritz makes a voyage of discovery -- Cape Minster and the swallows ' nests -- Pearl oysters -- A magnificent bay -- The strange message -- An excursion to Pearl Bay -- Fritz proposes to search for the stranger , and prepares his canoe for her reception -- The pearl fishery -- An encounter with a wild boar -- Jack 's accident -- Truffles -- A midnight alarm -- The lion and his mate -- Our enemies overcome -- Juno 's death -- We set sail for Rockburg -- Fritz leaves us . `` We spend our years as a tale that is told , '' said King David . These words recurred to me again and again as I reviewed ten years , of which the story lay chronicled in the pages of my journal . Year followed year ; chapter succeeded chapter ; steadily , imperceptibly , time was passing away .