noon
Had not this happened , the boat would have been upset . She had now but her fore lug and foresail , so that she could no longer keep close to the wind without an after oar kept constantly going . The night , however , passed away without any farther accident . It was not until noon , when the weather moderated , that all hands turned to and tried to repair the tattered sails . This operation was almost beyond their power . They managed , however , to patch up a mizen , which enabled the boat once more to stand on her proper course . Several days passed by ; no land appeared in sight .