hour
before noon
It 's worth noticing though how cleverly scientific men have worked it out for us , and what with our instruments , the chronometer , and the nautical almanac , we only want a bit of sunshine to be able to find out our bearings and never feel afraid of being lost . '' `` I 'll come and see how it 's done . '' `` Do , sir , at noon ; and you 'll like to see the heaving of the log as well . '' The captain was right ; the wind dropped -- and quite suddenly -- a good hour before noon , and Jack found himself beginning to feel a little hungry and hollow inside just about the time when the sextant was brought out , but he felt interested in what was being done , and found himself beginning to think that perhaps after all there might be something during the voyage to compensate for the deprivations he was to suffer with respect to his regular studies and his books . It was curious , too , how little he began to think of the rising and falling of the vessel , as she glided over the waves , which were rough enough , and sparkled brilliantly in the sunshine ; but the fore-part of the deck was dry now and warm , while the yacht looked picturesque and cheery , with the crew busy over various matters connected with the navigation . But nobody made the slightest allusion now to his having been ill , or asked how he felt , and the colour came into the lad 's cheeks once as he caught his father 's eyes , which somehow seemed to wear a more contented and satisfied look , but he only said quietly -- `` I say , Jack , lad , do you think we could sit down in a chair now without being shot out ? '' Jack felt obliged to reply , so he said -- `` Let 's try . ''