midnight
Some opposing force was keeping the wind in check ; there was conflict up there , for , though masses of detached cloud were breaking away and racing o'er the zenith , we held but a fitful gusty breeze , and our barque , under low sail , was lurching uneasily for want of a steadying wind . It was a morning of ill-omen , and the darkling sky but reflected the gloom of our faces ; our thoughts were in keeping with the day , for we had lost a shipmate , one among us was gone , Old Martin was dead . He died sometime in the middle watch , no one knew when . He was awake when the watch came below at midnight , for Welsh John had given him matches for his pipe before turning in . That was the last , for when they were called at four , Martin was cold and quiet . There was no trouble on his face , no sign of pain or suffering . Belike the old man had put his pipe aside , and finding no shipmate awake to ` pass the word , ' had gently claimed his Pilot .