noon
The day 's sky had steadily withdrawn its favor . The sun shone as it sank into the waves , but in the northwest and southeast dazzling thunderheads swelled from the sea 's line high into the heavens , and in the early dusk began with silent kindlings to challenge each other to battle . As night swiftly closed down the air grew unnaturally still . From the toiler 's brow , worse than at noon , the sweat rolled off , as at last he brought his work to a close by the glare of his leaping camp-fire . Now , unless he meant only to perish , he must once more eat and sleep while he might . Then let the storm fall ; the moment it was safely over and the wind in the right quarter he would sail . As for the thirst which had been such a torture while thwarted , now that it ruled unchallenged , it was purely a wild , glad zeal as full of method as of diligence .