midday
All hands were at work , next morning , with the first gleam of daylight . The rollers were still almost as high as the day before ; but there was now a slight breath of wind , which sufficed to give the vessel steerage way . She was put head to the rollers , changing the motion from the tremendous rolling , when she was lying broadside to them , for a regular rise and fall that interfered but little with the work . A spare spar was fitted in the place of the bowsprit , the stump of the topmast was sent down , and the topgallant mast fitted in its place and , by midday , the light spars were all in their places again , and the brig was showing a fair spread of canvas ; and a casual observer would , at a distance , have noticed but slight change in her appearance . `` That has been a good morning 's work , '' the captain said , as they sat down to dinner . `` We are a little short of head-sail , but that will make no great difference in our rate of sailing , especially if the wind is aft . We are ready to meet with another storm again , if it should come -- which is not likely .