midnight
From the bearing of the land , we expected orders to check in the yards , but , greatly to our surprise , the Mate ordered us to the lee fore-brace , and seemed to be unable to get the yards far enough forrard to please him . When Wee Laughlin came from the wheel at eight bells , we learned that the ship was now heading to the nor ` east , and away from our port ; and the old hands , with many shakings of the head , maintained that some tricky game was afoot . The Old Man and the Mate were colloguing earnestly at the break of the poop ; and Jones , who went aft on a pretence of trimming the binnacle , reported that the Old Man was expressing heated opinions on the iniquity of salvage . At midnight we squared away , but as we approached the land the wind fell light and hauled ahead . Wonder of wonders ! This seemed to please the Captain hugely , and his face beamed like a nor ` west moon every time he peered into the compass . Dawn found us well to the norrard of the islands , and close-hauled , standing into the land .