noon
They lowered the wreck in awful silence , and Harvey spent his leisure hours for the next few days under Tom Platt 's lee , learning to use a needle and palm . Dan hooted with joy , for , as he said , he had made the very same blunder himself in his early days . Boylike , Harvey imitated all the men by turns , till he had combined Disko 's peculiar stoop at the wheel , Long Jack 's swinging overhand when the lines were hauled , Manuel 's round-shouldered but effective stroke in a dory , and Tom Platt 's generous Ohio stride along the deck . '' 'T is beautiful to see how he takes to ut , '' said Long Jack , when Harvey was looking out by the windlass one thick noon . `` I 'll lay my wage an ' share 't is more 'n half play-actin ' to him , an ' he consates himself he 's a bowld mariner . ` Watch his little bit av a back now ! '' `` That 's the way we all begin , '' said Tom Platt .