noon before
There was one consolation ; she was traveling at a furious speed . At length , morning broke , gray and lowering , over a leaden sea that was seamed with white . Carroll glanced longingly at the meat can on the locker near his feet . He could reach it by stooping , though he dare not leave the helm , but he determined to wait until noon before he broke his fast again . It could not be very far to Comox , but the wind might drop . Then he began to wonder how he had escaped the perils of the night . He had come down what was really a wide and not quite straight sound , passing several unlighted islands .