nearly midday
A delay was inevitable , the captain assured them , but in a couple of hours the repairs could be made . Morning came , revealing the distant yellow line of the African coast , but still the steamer lay at anchor , rocking gently in the early morning breeze . It may be imagined with what a fever of impatience Guy and Melton lived through those weary hours . It was nearly midday when the repairs were completed , and the vessel forged ahead again . For fear of fresh accidents , the captain refused to crowd on steam , and when at last the turrets and brown walls of Zaila came in view , it was late in the afternoon . At a distance , all seemed peaceful ; the English flag was floating from half a dozen different buildings of the town . In the harbor lay three or four Arab dhows and a neat little steamer , which the captain said belonged to the governor , and was used for transporting troops or despatches .