midnight
Few but those who have tried it can imagine the difficulty and pain of only keeping the eyes open -- physically open -- under such circumstances , in such darkness . They get struck by the darkness , and blinded by the darkness . They make patterns in it , and they flash in it , as if they had gone out of your head to look at you . On the turn of midnight , John Steadiman , who was alert and fresh -LRB- for I had always made him turn in by day -RRB- , said to me , `` Captain Ravender , I entreat of you to go below . I am sure you can hardly stand , and your voice is getting weak , sir . Go below , and take a little rest . I 'll call you if a block chafes . ''