noon
Profound , prolonged , and refreshing was that sweet slumber , after the first good meal these poor castaways had eaten for many days . The weather fortunately continued bright and warm , so that they did not suffer so much from exposure as on previous days , and the gentle rocking of the boat tended to deepen and prolong their repose . Thus they floated peacefully during the greater part of that day -- the one solitary speck on the surface of the great ocean , for the albatross seemed to have finally forsaken them . Towards noon a light westerly breeze sprang up . It was not sufficient to raise a sea or disturb the sleepers , but , in conjunction with ocean currents , it drifted them to the south-east at a considerable rate , so that in the evening , without the aid of oar or sail , they were far from the spot upon the sea where we introduced them to the reader . At last Dominick awoke with a long-drawn sigh , and , raising his head , looked over the side of the boat . An exclamation of surprise and joy broke from him , for there , like a speck , where something like a heavy bank of clouds rested on the horizon , was the long-expected sail .