noon
He answered all my companion 's questions with perfect freedom ; told him that he had no doubt of his father 's having been picked up , as there were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he was cut adrift ; and used other language of a consolatory nature , which occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure . Indeed , I began to entertain hopes , that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be finally enabled to regain possession of the brig , and this idea I mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity . He thought the matter possible , but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in making the attempt , as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone ; and , indeed , it was difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind . Peters went upon deck in about an hour , and did not return again until noon , when he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding . Of this , when we were left alone , I partook heartily , without returning through the hole . No one else came down into the forecastle during the day , and at night , I got into Augustus ' berth , where I slept soundly and sweetly until nearly daybreak , when he awakened me upon hearing a stir upon deck , and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible . When the day was fully broke , we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almost entirely , and gave no indications of hydrophobia , drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent eagerness .