Midnight.—­Irrepressibles dance sailor’s hornpipe on deck; half-the-crew below awake from slumbers, and advise Irrepressibles to renew search for bait.

12:30 a.m.—­Irrepressibles return to shore for bait.  Loud breathing in cabin; water swashing on rocks along the beach; very picturesque, but no moon yet; voice in the distance says “Halloa!” Echo in the other distance replies, “Halloa yourself, and see how you like it!”

1 a.m.—­Irrepressibles still absent on shore; a dog barks loudly in the dark; a noise is heard in a far away hen-coop—­Irrepressibles looking diligently for bait.

1:30 a.m.—­Dog sitting on the shore howling; very heavy breathing in the cabin; noise of oars in the rowlocks; music on the water, chorus of youthful male voices, singing “A smuggler’s life is a merry, merry, life.”  Subdued noise of hens; dog still howling; no moon yet; more noise of hens, bait rapidly approaching.

2 a.m.—­Irrepressibles try to row yawl through sternlights of “Lotus”; grand collision of yawl at full speed and a rakish cutter at anchor.  Profane language in the cabin; sleepy crew, half awake, rush up the hatchway, and denounce Irrepressibles.  Irrepressibles sing “Smuggler’s Life,” etc.; terrific noise of hens; half-the-crew invite the Irrepressibles to “be as decent as they can.”  No moon yet; everybody packed in the cabin.

2:30 a.m.—­Sudden squall.  “Lotus,” as usual, bends lovingly to the gale; dramatic youth in his bunk says, in deep voice, “No sleep till morn!” More dramatic youths say, “I heard a voice cry, ’Sleep no more’.”  Very deep voice says, “Macbeth hath mur-r-r-r-dered sleep!” General confusion in the cabin.  Old commodore of the “Lotus” says, “Gentlemen, a little less noise, if you please.”  Noise subsides.

3 a.m.—­Irrepressibles propose sleeping in binnacle; unfortunate discovery—­no binnacle on board.  Half-the-crew turn over, and suggest that the Irrepressibles take night-caps, and retire anywhere.  Moved and seconded, That the Irrepressibles take two night-caps, and retire in a body—­item:  two heads better than one, two night-caps ditto, ditto.

3:30 a.m.—­Commotion in cabin.  Irrepressibles find no place to lay their weary heads.  Moonlight sail proposed; observations on deck—­no moon; squall in the distance; air very chilly.  Irrepressibles retire in a body, and take night-caps.  Song by Irrepressibles, “A Smuggler’s Life.”  Half-the-crew sit up and throw boots.  Irrepressibles assault half-the-crew, and take bunks by storm; great confusion; old commodore of the “Lotus” says, “Gentlemen had better sleep a little, so as to be in trim for fishing at daybreak,” night-caps all round; order restored; chorus of subdued voices, “A Smuggler’s Life.”

4 a.m.—­Signs of daybreak; thin blue mist over the water; white sea-bird overhead, with bright light on its breast; flocks bleating on shore; sloop becalmed under the lee of the land; fishermen casting nets; more fishermen right under them, casting nets upside down.  Everything very fresh and shining; feel happy; think we must look like marine picture by somebody.