noon
`` Ten knots an hour , '' said she . `` Very good speed , '' returned the captain . `` I do not think we shall be able to take an observation to-day , as it is rather cloudy . '' Sailors `` take observations '' at noon , if the sun is out , by means of a sextant , with which they measure the distance from the sun to the southern horizon . In this way the captain can tell the exact latitude of the ship ; but Miss Percival made believe there was a storm coming up ; so it was not possible to take an observation . `` It is two bells , '' said she : `` the wind is out ; there will be a fearful storm . I would advise the passengers to turn into their berths . ''