midnight
I had given strict orders that the lanterns should be allowed to remain burning on deck , just as the pirates had left them , that no other lights should be kindled anywhere about the ship except where it was possible to effectually mask their light , and that no one should show anything of himself above the level of the topgallant-rail upon any consideration ; but now , the brigantine having been gone from us rather more than two hours , I gave instructions that all the lanterns on deck and all lights of every kind visible from outside the ship might be simultaneously extinguished , so that , should anybody happen to be watching our lights , they might come to the conclusion that the ship had filled and we were gone to the bottom . This done , I mustered my entire crew and , first hoisting in the long-boat , sent them aloft to stow all the lighter sails , so that we might not be wholly unprepared should the change of weather that now seemed impending be ushered in with a squall . This occupied the men a full hour and a half , at the end of which , having brought the ship into tolerably manageable condition , I gave them permission to lie down and snatch a nap if they could , but to hold themselves ready for any emergency that might arise . It was by this time long past midnight , and so pitchy dark that , all lights having been extinguished , it was impossible to see one end of the poop from the other . The stars had all vanished , and the silence was so profound as to be quite oppressive , not even the sound of the pirate 's sweeps now being audible ; though whether they had been laid in , or whether the vessel had increased her distance so greatly as to have passed beyond the range of sound , I knew not , but I strongly suspected the former contingency . This profound silence was maintained for nearly an hour , and then my hearing -- rendered unusually acute no doubt by the intense darkness that enveloped me -- once more became conscious of a regular , measured , rhythmical sound , the sound of sweeps again being plied , and , without doubt , on board the _ Francesca _ . What did it mean ?