noon
`` Where do you make our position , sir ? '' asked Lieutenant Hetherton . `` Off the Virginia Capes , '' was Jack 's reply . `` We should pick up Fort Monroe before noon . '' Jack was a good prophet . It still lacked half an hour of midday when the outlines of the historic fortress at Old Point became distinguishable in the distance . The Essex slipped quietly through the smooth waters of Hampton Roads and dropped anchor some distance off shore .