twelve o'clock
The `` watch on deck '' was not allowed to go below at night , so the only shelter allowed us was the fire room and the main companion-way . The latter could hold but a few men , and the only alternative was the fire or `` drum '' room , into which the heat and gas from the furnaces ascended from the bowels of the ship , making it impossible for a man to breathe the atmosphere there for more than half an hour at a time . The after wheel-house was sometimes taken advantage of by the more venturesome of the boys , but the risk was great , for `` Cutlets '' was continually prowling around , and the man found taking shelter there would receive tongue lashings hard to bear , with abuse entirely out of proportion to the offence . A little before twelve o'clock we heard the boatswain 's pipe , and the long drawn shout , `` On deck all the starboard watch , '' and `` All the starboard watch to muster . '' So we knew that we would soon be relieved , and would be able to take the much-needed four hours ' sleep in our `` sleeping bags , '' as `` Hay '' called them . The starboard men came slowly up , rubbing their eyes , buttoning their oilskins , and tying their sou ` westers on by a string under their chins as they walked . `` Hurry up there , will you ? ''