noon
`` We can well wait here for two or three weeks ; and the skipper of the _ Sikiana _ will be glad enough to earn five or six hundred dollars by giving us a passage to Ponapé . I know him very well ; he 's a decent little Dutchman named Westphalen , who has sailed so long in English and American ships that he 's civilised . He was with me , Tessa , when I was sailing the _ Belle Brandon _ for your father . '' Soon after noon the crew , after having had a good rest , set to work to overhaul the boat in a large canoe shed , for quite possibly they might have to put to sea in her again , if anything should prevent the _ Sikiana _ from calling at the island in a reasonable time . That night as the second mate and his companions were sleeping peacefully under the thatched roofs of the little native village , with nought to disturb their slumbers but the gentle lapping of the waters of the lagoon on the sandy beach , and the ceaseless call of the reef beyond , Hendry and his companion in crime were sitting in their boat talking earnestly . The captain was steering ; Chard sat on the after-thwart , facing him . `` I tell you that I do n't care much what we do , Louis , '' said the supercargo , with a reckless laugh , as he looked into the captain 's sullen face .