about midnight
For there was a good deal of talking going on upon deck , and they could smell tobacco , and once there came down the rattle of a bottle neck against a glass . So the prisoners waited patiently in the darkness , Mark discussing from time to time the possibility of the second schooner having been captured , but they had no means of knowing . One thing was , however , certain -- they were sailing very gently , evidently not in pursuit , and , judging by the stars , they were going south , and thus farther away from aid . Making a guess at its being about midnight , and when all was wonderfully still , Mark whispered his plans to the men . They were simple enough . He told them that he should climb up over the poop , and do so without exciting the attention of the hand at the helm , for it was possible , though doubtful , that the man set as sentry over them would be asleep . He had no reason to expect this , but it was probable , and he was going to try it .