Eight Bells The moon must be monstrous coy, or some things fall out opportunely, or else almanacs are consulted by nocturnal adventurers; but so it is, that when Cynthia shows a round and chubby disk, few daring deeds are done.

Though true it may be, that of moonlight nights, jewelers' caskets and maidens' hearts have been burglariously broken into--and rifled, for aught Copernicus can tell.
The gentle planet was in her final quarter, and upon her slender horn I hung my hopes of withdrawing from the ship undetected.
Now, making a tranquil passage across the ocean, we kept at this time what are called among whalemen "boatscrew-watches." That is, instead of the sailors being divided at night into two bands, alternately on deck every four hours, there were four watches, each composed of a boat's crew, the "headsman" (always one of the mates) excepted.

To the officers, this plan gives uninterrupted repose--"all-night-in," as they call it, and of course greatly lightens the duties of the crew.
The harpooneers head the boats' crews, and are responsible for the ship during the continuance of their watches.
Now, my Viking being a stalwart seaman, pulled the midship oar of the boat of which I was bowsman.

Hence, we were in the same watch; to which, also, three others belonged, including Mark, the harpooner.
One of these seamen, however, being an invalid, there were only two left for us to manage.
Voyaging in these seas, you may glide along for weeks without starting tack or sheet, hardly moving the helm a spoke, so mild and constant are the Trades.

At night, the watch seldom trouble themselves with keeping much of a look-out; especially, as a strange sail is almost a prodigy in these lonely waters.