noon
Ned rowed to the admiral 's ship and left the governor there , and then rowed to that of Captain Enkin . `` Welcome back , '' the captain said heartily . `` I had begun to fear that ill had befallen you . A few fugitives came off at noon with the news that the Spaniards had entered the city and all was lost . Since then the roar of musketry , mingled with shouts and yells , has been unceasing , and that tremendous fire in the heart of the city told its own tale . For the last three hours the river has been full of floating corpses ; and the countess and her daughter , who until then remained on deck , retired to pray in their cabin . The number of fugitives who have reached the ships is very small .