midday
It was near about midday on a Saturday that we saved the poor folks from the island , and not long after midnight on the Monday that our troubles came to a head . I like to call these the `` sixty hours '' ; and as what I have to write of them is written , as it were , from watch to watch , so swiftly did things happen , I will try to make a diary of it that you may follow me more closely . _ Saturday , May 27th . At midday . _ There are nine people rescued from the ship , and one of these a girl , Isabel , the daughter of Captain Nepeen , of the American navy . Her father is with her , a tall , stately man , very quiet and orderly , and quite ready to take a man 's duty in the house . Of the others , the most part are American seamen , for this was an ocean-going steamer , Silver Bell , trading from American ports to Yokohama .