midday
In that riot of tempest and ruck of sea he was straining his eyes , trying to get a glimpse of the hulk on Razee . But the schooner had worked her way too far off to the west , pressed to leeward by the relentless palm of the storm . Then at last came morning , an opaque dawn that was shrouded with swirling snow , and all was hidden from their eyes except the tumbling mountains of water which swept to them , threatened to engulf them , and then melted under their keel . The captains could only guess at the extent of their drift , but when the wind quieted after midday , and they were able to get sail on the schooner , they were in no doubt as to the direction in which the steamer must lie . They began their sloshing ratch back to east . Mayo braved nipping wind and iced rigging and took the glass to the main crosstrees . He remained there though he was chilled through and through .