noon
It is very narrow ; and from the baffling winds , currents , and sunken rocks , ships now and then grate their keels against the coral . But the mate was not to be daunted ; so , stationing what men he had at the braces , he sprang upon the bulwarks , and , bidding everybody keep wide awake , ordered the helm up . In a few moments , we were running in . Being toward noon , the wind was fast leaving us , and , by the time the breakers were roaring on either hand , little more than steerage-way was left . But on we glided -- smoothly and deftly ; avoiding the green , darkling objects here and there strewn in our path ; Jermin occasionally looking down in the water , and then about him , with the utmost calmness , and not a word spoken . Just fanned along thus , it was not many minutes ere we were past all danger , and floated into the placid basin within . This was the cleverest specimen of his seamanship that he ever gave us .