noon
The weather , however , had been growing worse and worse , and with the heavy sea there was running , the boat herself , we knew , would be in no slight peril . `` All night long we continued cruising over the ground ; but not a sign of the boat could we discover . When morning came , we continued our search , with the same want of success . Towards noon the weather again moderated ; but though fish were seen spouting , the master would not send the boats after them ; and unwilling as we were to lose them , none of us had the heart to press him to do so . `` For the best part of a week we stood backwards and forwards in all directions looking for the boat ; till at last the men began to grumble , and I felt it my duty to urge the master to carry out the object of the voyage . Almost broken-hearted , he consented to do so . Slowly his poor wife recovered ; and from that day to this they have never found any trace of their lost child .