noon
As the water once more surrounded the boat they were pleased and encouraged to find that while the water was again coming in through the seams it filled the bilge so slowly that the pump could easily take care of it . Perry declared proudly that they had done a `` caulking job ! '' They went ashore before the water cut them off entirely and built the fire up again . About four the wind died down appreciably and the sun , which had been flirting with the world ever since noon , burst forth in a sudden blaze of glory . The mist disappeared as if by magic and exclamations of surprise burst from six throats as eager eyes looked shoreward . There , as it seemed scarcely a half-mile distant , was the mainland ; green fields , grey cliffs , white houses ! In reality the distance was well over a mile and a quarter , but so clear had the atmosphere suddenly become that the space of tumbled green water intervening looked hardly more than a swimmer 's stunt !