noon
But , after it was all over , we would not have missed the sight for anything , it was so grand ; yet , had we been caught out on the sea a little farther from the hut , we should never have got back , but both of us must have perished . `` Thus you see how Providence continued to watch over the two poor castaways . '' Covers a Long Period of Time , and shows , among other Things , how a Race may be lost at Both Ends . `` I must now tell you , '' continued the Captain , `` that , while all these adventures were happening , the winter was passing steadily away ; and , from what I have before told you about the Arctic seasons , you will know that when the winter came finally to an end the darkness came to an end too , -- that is , to be more particular , first there was a little flush of light at noon , to see which made us very glad , you may be sure ; after this , from day to day , the light grew brighter and brighter , until it was almost broad daylight , as it is here just before the sun has risen in the morning ; then the sun came up a few days afterward only a little way above the horizon -LRB- of course right in the south -RRB- ; and then , next day , it was a little higher , and the next day a little higher still ; and then , by and by , it was -LRB- as it had been in the summer-time before -RRB- circling round and round us , shining all the while ; and now our hut was at midnight in the shadow of the cliff ; at noon the sun was blazing down upon us , softening the snow , and making our hearts , O , how happy and thankful ! -- more so than I can tell you . `` I thought that never in all my life had I seen anything so splendid as the sun 's bright face when he appeared for the first time after this long dark winter . For you must know we were about one hundred and twenty days without once setting eyes upon the sun at all ; and now , when he did rise , after this long interval , what could we do but take off our caps and whirl them round and round our heads , in very joy and gladness ?