noon
I had never seen Apinoka nor any of his European hangers-on , and had no desire to make his or their acquaintance , so I anxiously watched the weather and had everything ready to get under way the moment we could do so with safety . But though it was smooth enough inside the lagoon , the wind continued to blow with undiminished violence , and even had it moderated there was such a terrific sea tumbling in through the narrow passage , that it would have been a most risky undertaking to have attempted to beat out against a head wind , with such a heavy , sluggish boat . Had I known what was to happen I should have risked it ten times over . At noon , whilst we were having our midday meal , Tematau , who was standing for ` ard , scanning the eastern shore of the atoll , said he could see a boat coming towards us , beating up under a reefed mainsail and jib . `` It is one of Apinoka 's boats , Simi , '' said Niâbon , `` for there is no trader in Apamama ; the king will let no one trade here . '' `` Well , we ca n't help ourselves , '' I said , as I looked at the boat through my glasses ; `` she is beating up for us -- there is no doubt about that . I daresay we shall get rid of them when they find out who we are . ''