noon
We could see figures on her poop staring and pointing , a man with glasses at his eyes . Only a fleeting glimpse -- for she was soon swallowed up by the murk astern , and we were driving on . The shift of wind came suddenly . Nearly at noon there was a heavier fall of rain , a shrieking squall that blew as it had never blown . The Old Man marked the signs -- the scud of the upper clouds , a brightening low down in the south . `` Stan ' by ... head ... yards , '' he yelled , shouting hoarsely to be heard . `` Quick ... the word ! ''