twelve o'clock
On deck the superior officers were in conversation with the captain , who had expressed the same fear that O'Brien had in our berth . The men , who knew what they had to expect -- for this sort of intelligence is soon communicated through a ship -- were assembled in knots , looking very grave , but at the same time not wanting in confidence . They knew that they could trust to the captain , as far as skill or courage could avail them ; and sailors are too sanguine to despair , even at the last moment . Before twelve o'clock the rocky point which we so much dreaded was in sight broad on the lee bow ; and if the low sandy coast appeared terrible , how much more did this , even at a distance ! the black masses of rock covered with foam , which each minute dashed up in the air higher than our lower mast-heads . The captain eyed it for some minutes in silence , as if in calculation . `` Mr Falcon , '' said he at last , `` we must put the mainsail on her . ''