about noon
Visions of delicious country breakfasts , for which he had longed , had now given place to the humblest of desires , for he felt as if he would have given anything for the most mouldy , weevilly biscuit that ever came out of a dirty bag in a purser 's locker . He had fasted before now , but never to such an extent as this , and he sat upon his straw heap at last , chewing pieces to try and relieve his pain . He had worked at the iron bars for a time , but had now given it up , finding that he would be knifeless long before he could loosen a single bar ; besides , that gnawing hunger mastered everything else , and in place of the active the passive state had set in : with a feeling of obstinate annoyance against his captors he had determined to sit still and starve . The probabilities are that Hilary 's obstinate determination would have lasted about an hour ; but he was not called upon to carry it out , for just about noon , as he guessed , he fancied he heard a voice , and jumping up he ran to the window and listened . Yes , there was no mistake about it . Some one was singing , and it was in sweet girlish tones . `` Ahoy !