midday
Every now and then a rumbling noise ending in a thud down below showed that the swing of the ship had caused something to come down with a run . Underlying all other sounds , however , was a muffled clank , clank , which might almost make one forget that this was a sailing ship , it sounded so like the chipping of a propeller . `` What is that noise , Captain Miggs ? '' asked John Girdlestone as he stood leaning over the quarter rail , while the old sea-dog , sextant in hand , was taking his midday observations . The captain had been on his good behaviour since the unexpected advent of his employers , and he was now in a wonderful and unprecedented state of sobriety . `` Them 's the pumps a-goin ' , '' Miggs answered , packing his sextant away in its case . `` The pumps !