nearly noon
To remedy this , I bit away some of the stitches in the bottom of my canvas bag , until I made an opening through which I could thrust my head . I completed the garment thus formed by opening holes in the sides for my arms . Upon my unprotected head , which , as you see , is inclined to be bald , the sun beat with such fury that I feared my brain would be affected , until I conceived the happy thought of tying on a wet sponge . `` By the time I was thus equipped , it was nearly noon , and the island I had been approaching all the morning was close at hand . I saw , however , that I was in danger of drifting past without touching it , and to avert this evil I began to paddle with my hands . In order to preserve the equilibrium of the tub under these efforts I was obliged to paddle it back foremost . Thus I was completely hidden from the shore , nor could I see it save at a distance on either side .