the sun at noon
`` Here , you boys , tail on here and steer as I tell you . '' Whereupon , fingering a pocket compass , he called the course , after which he fastened the little instrument to the wreck of the binnacle . `` We will pull through , '' he said , turning to Mr. Howland , who , with his daughter , had followed him to the bridge . `` We are somewhere off the Winter Quarter Shoals ; if I can get the sun at noon I 'll know exactly ; anyway , we will make Norfolk if that shaft holds . If it does n't -- well , banking on that engineer you 've got down below , I think it will hold . '' Then inclining his head in the direction of Miss Howland , he added , `` I 'd advise you to go below , Miss Howland . '' He thrilled as he uttered her name , `` You 're wet ; and then -- I may have to swear . ''