noon
Then with the hubbub and splashing increasing , and the water being , as it were , churned up into liquid fire , the sides of the boat were seized , and it was borne over and among the rocks to the very ridge , and then , with a feeling of relief that it is impossible to describe , down lower and lower , with the sounds dying out ; while Mark , who was last , felt that if the horror had been continued much longer , it would have been greater than he could have borne , and he must have stopped his ears and run . `` I do n't think they can hear us now , '' said the captain . `` Hah ! '' There was a tremendous flash , accompanied by a deafening roar from the mountain , and the whole of the bay , with its overhanging blackened rocks , were for a few moments illumined by the quivering light , so that everything was as distinct as if it were noon . Then all was pitchy blackness again , and the thunderous roar died slowly away , as the thunder mutters into silence in a storm . `` That was a narrow escape from being seen , '' said the captain , cheerily . `` Two minutes sooner , and we should have been in full view .