noon
One morning , at daybreak , they brought him up to a large , long whale . He darted his harpoon , and missed ; and the fish sounded . After a while , the monster rose again , about a mile off , and they made after him . But he was frightened , or `` gallied , '' as they call it ; and noon came , and the boat was still chasing him . In whaling , as long as the fish is in sight , and no matter what may have been previously undergone , there is no giving up , except when night comes ; and nowadays , when whales are so hard to be got , frequently not even then . At last , Bembo 's whale was alongside for the second time . He darted both harpoons ; but , as sometimes happens to the best men , by some unaccountable chance , once more missed .