Noon
No sail was in sight . Would the ship float another day ? The shot-holes had been stopped , but should bad weather again come on it would be impossible to say what would be the effect on the vessel . Noon came , but no sail was in sight . We were afraid that the cunning privateer had led the frigate a long chase , perhaps among shoals and reefs , and that she had got on shore , and that we might not see the frigate again . `` More likely that she was only the _ Flying Dutchman _ , taking a longer cruise than usual , '' muttered Stubbs . `` There 's no saying what tricks that fellow is not up to . ''