midnight
Who could tell ? Meanwhile the ship was borne swiftly on by wind and wave -- whither ? None of these frightened women knew . Eight bells struck -- twelve , midnight ; and Ishmael renewed his entreaties that they would take some repose . But in vain ; for they declared that there could be no repose for their bodies while their minds were suffering such intense anxiety . One bell struck , and there they sat ; two bells , and there they still sat ; and there was but little conversation after this . Three bells struck , and they sat on , so motionless that Ishmael hoped they had fallen asleep on their watch and he refrained from addressing them .