midnight
Before sunset the wind had fallen to a gentle zephyr ; the tropical sea was gradually returning to its normal state of comparative calm ; and the _ Catamaran _ , with her broad sail once more spread to the breeze , was scudding on , -- guided in her course by the golden luminary slowly descending towards the western edge of a cloudless heaven . The night proved pleasanter than the day . The wind was no longer an enemy ; and the breeze that succeeded was more advantageous than would have been a dead calm ; since it steadied the craft amidst the rolling of the swell . Before midnight the swell itself had subsided . It had never reached any great height , as the gale had been of short continuance ; and for the same reason it had suddenly gone down again . With the return of smooth water they were able to betake themselves to rest . They needed it , after such a series of fatigues and fears ; and having swallowed a few morsels of their unpalatable food , and washed it down by a cup of diluted Canary , they all went to rest .