noon
I was surprised that Mark had never heard of the line , and so I tried to explain to him what it was . As to Neptune coming on board , I knew that that was all nonsense , and so I told him . During that evening and the next morning some of the men were busily engaged in their berth , into which they allowed no one but themselves to enter . Soon after noon the captain , having taken his observations , gave notice that we were about to cross the line . Mark and I had been sent aft , when we heard a voice hail as if from under the bows . `` What ship is that ? '' `` The ` Emu , ' '' answered the captain , who with the officers was standing on the poop .