noon
Thus she stood while we glided by . She was a pretty creature , and she and her willow bough made a very pretty picture , and one which could not offend the modesty of the most fastidious spectator . Her white skin had a low bank of fresh green willows for background and effective contrast -- for she stood against them -- and above and out of them projected the eager faces and white shoulders of two smaller girls . Toward noon we heard the inspiriting cry , -- `` Sail ho ! '' `` Where away ? '' shouted the captain . `` Three points off the weather bow ! ''