About ten o'clock at
night
How he first got in touch with his captain 's wife Powell relates in this way . It was long before his memorable conversation with the mate and shortly after getting clear of the channel . It was gloomy weather ; dead head wind , blowing quite half a gale ; the _ Ferndale _ under reduced sail was stretching close-hauled across the track of the homeward bound ships , just moving through the water and no more , since there was no object in pressing her and the weather looked threatening . About ten o'clock at night he was alone on the poop , in charge , keeping well aft by the weather rail and staring to windward , when amongst the white , breaking seas , under the black sky , he made out the lights of a ship . He watched them for some time . She was running dead before the wind of course . She will pass jolly close -- he said to himself ; and then suddenly he felt a great mistrust of that approaching ship .