It was the effect of a fatigue of which he did not wish to take account.
Now, it happened that during the night of the 13th to the 14th of February, that Dick Sand was very tired, and was obliged to take a few hours' rest.

He was replaced at the helm by old Tom.
The sky was covered with thick clouds, which had gathered with the evening, under the influence of the cold air.

It was then very dark, and it was impossible to distinguish the high sails lost in the darkness.

Hercules and Acteon were on watch on the forecastle.
Aft, the light from the binnacle only gave a faint gleam, which the metallic apparatus of the wheel reflected softly.

The ship's lanterns throwing their lights laterally, left the deck of the vessel in profound darkness.
Toward three o'clock in the morning, a kind of hypnotic phenomenon took place, of which old Tom was not even conscious.