about noon
At noon they all returned to their respective cruisers and ate dinner , which , under the conditions , was no easy matter . They had to hold the dishes to the table and swallow their tea between plunges . Joe was inordinately proud of himself that day , for , in spite of the nasty motion -- and there 's nothing much more likely to induce sickness than a long ground-swell -- he not only remained on duty but consumed his dinner with a fine appetite . It rained quite hard for a half-hour about noon and then ceased just in time for them to set off to the _ Catspaw _ again . It was decided that the _ Follow Me 's _ tender was to be left with the schooner , in case of necessity , and Joe acknowledged that he felt a bit easier in his mind when it had been hoisted , not without difficulty , to one of the davits . `` It 's all fine and dandy to say that this old tub ca n't sink , '' he confided to Wink Wheeler , `` but -- um -- suppose she _ did _ sink ? Then that little old dingey would be worth about a thousand dollars , I guess . ''