twelve o’clock
By night the wind was blowing fiercely and the sea rapidly rising . The sails were closely reefed , and even then they felt with pleasure that the little craft was making good way . The wind increased during the night , and was blowing a gale by morning . Just at twelve o'clock a craft was seen approaching which all were convinced was an Algerine . She changed her course at once and bore down upon them , firing a gun as a signal for them to stop . `` She is rather faster than we are , '' Dimchurch said , `` but we 'll lead her a good dance before she gets hold of us . She could not work her guns in this sea , and if she is the faster , at least we are the handier . ''