midnight
`` None of them will hear you through the bulkhead . Let the cursed brute bleed to death and be hanged to him ! I 'm sorry I did n't settle him , right out , as I intended ! '' Somebody did hear , however ; for at that moment , Frank Harness -- who had been told to go below along with McCarthy and Adams at midnight by the unfortunate captain , who said he would take the sole duty of the ship on himself until the morning watch was called -- rushed up the companion way on to the poop . `` Did you call , Captain Dinks -- Mr Meldrum ! '' he cried , looking about and seeing nobody there . `` I thought I heard someone call out for help ! ''