noon
At noon the second day he found his ship was directly west of the southern part of the Bermudas , and but fifty miles from them . He shaped his course so as to be at the south of them that night . The position of the Chateaugay was accurately laid down on the chart fifty miles to the westward of Spears Hill , which is about the geographical centre of the Bermuda Islands . Captain Chantor had invited his two passengers to his cabin for a conference in relation to the proposed enterprise , after the observations had been worked up at noon , on the fourth day after the departure from New York . `` Now , Mr. Gilfleur , if you will indicate the precise point at which you desire to put off in your boat , I will have the ship there at the time you require , '' said the captain , who had drawn a rough sketch of the islands , and dotted upon it the points he mentioned in his statement . `` Of course you do not wish the ship to be seen from the islands , '' suggested the detective . `` Certainly not ; for if the Dornoch is in port at St. George 's that would be warning her to avoid us in coming out , and she might escape by standing off to the northward , '' replied the commander .