noon
It is true , he had never known of one of these fishes attempting to quit his own element in pursuit of his prey ; but such things were reported , and those around the wreck swam so close , and seemed so eager to get at those who were on it , that there really might be some excuse for fancying they might resort to unusual means of effecting their object . It is probable that , like all other animals , they were emboldened by their own numbers , and were acting in a sort of concert , that was governed by some of the many mysterious laws of nature that have still escaped human observation . Thus passed the earlier hours of that appalling day . Toward noon , Mulford had insisted on the females dividing one of the oranges between them , and extracting its juice by way of assuaging their thirst . The effect was most grateful , as all admitted , and even Mrs. Budd urged Harry and Tier to take a portion of the remaining orange ; but this both steadily refused . Mulford did consent to receive a small portion of one of the apples , more with a view of moistening his throat than to appease his hunger , though it had , in a slight degree , the latter effect also . As for Jack Tier , he declined even the morsel of apple , saying that tobacco answered his purpose , as indeed it temporarily might .