midnight
_ -- `` Fie , Schillie , you forget what you are saying . '' _ Schillie . _ -- `` I dare say I am very wicked , but do n't bother me now ; keep your scolding until we get out of this mess , if we ever do . '' Towards midnight , a sound in the water made our hearts beat . Either the pirates meant to storm us at night , or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us . Calling the girls , we set them to watch the rope ladder , which we let down on the one side , while we watched the pathway on the other . The tide was ebbing , though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water , yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us .