noon
The cable to the rock was led through a ring at the stern and carried forward to the windlass . By the time the tide had begun to rise again they had got the hull free of water , taking turns at the hand-pump and operating the bilge-pump at the same time . Then they waited to see how well they had succeeded at their caulking . It was noon by that time , and they ate cold rations in the galley , and while they were below a transient gleam of sunlight shone for an instant through the hatch above and they tumbled to deck . The fine rain had almost ceased and although the sunlight was gone again , the clouds were breaking . Steve whooped for joy and the others joined him . It might have been only in imagination , but it seemed that the wind was less fierce and that the in-rolling breakers were less formidable .