noon
After they had eaten , Dick moved a bag or two of coal to trim the craft and sounded the tank , because a high-pressure engine uses a large quantity of fresh water . Then he unrolled a chart and measured the distance to their port while Jake looked over his shoulder . `` We ought to be in time , '' he said . `` The advertisement merely stated that the boat would sail to-day , but as she did n't leave the last port until yesterday and she 'd have some cargo to ship , it 's unlikely that she 'll clear before noon . '' `` It might have been safer to telegraph , booking two berths . These little boats do n't often miss a chance of picking up a few dollars , and the skipper would have waited . '' `` I thought about that ; but the telegram would have shown what we were after if Kenwardine has bribed somebody in the office , which is possible . ''