about noon
a bright look-out . We must have eyes of a different nature to most men to pierce through this dense mist , '' quoth Martin , laughing . Still , such a look-out as was possible was kept , the captain hoping ere long to see one of the Prince 's vessels , and to learn from her where the rest were to be found . At length , about noon , the sun made an effort to burst through the thick veil which shrouded us . Soon afterwards the mist lifted for an instant ahead , and during that instant I saw what appeared to me the hull of a ship , the canvas just rising above it ; but it was only a glimpse , and it needed a sharp pair of eyes to discern any object a few fathoms off . I pointed her out to Lancelot , but he was doubtful whether I had actually seen a vessel , and no one else appeared to have observed her . The frigate therefore stood on , and unless the stranger which I supposed I had seen was sailing at equal speed , we must have passed her to leeward .