noon
Gazing far above them the boys could see a uniformed figure on the bridge shouting questions through a megaphone . He was , no doubt , inquiring what sort of lunatics they were whom he had so narrowly escaped sending to the bottom . `` A miss is as good as a mile , '' was Ben 's comment when they all breathed more freely , `` but no more misses like that , thank you . '' By daybreak the fury of the hurricane had blown itself out and the sun rose on a sea that while still storm-tossed was moderate compared to the terrific upheaval of the preceding night ; by noon , in fact , so suddenly did the wind drop , the Bolo was nosing her way along through what seemed a glittering , sunlit desert of almost perfectly smooth water . `` Let 's get the lines out and troll ; we might catch a shark , '' was Billy 's sudden suggestion . `` Right you are , '' assented Bluewater Bill . `` There 's lots of them in these waters -- savage critters , too .