noon
I observed that Mr Griffiths never gave an order if he could help it while the blind captain was on deck . The health of the latter , however , by degrees improved , the colour returned to his cheeks , and his voice , when he spoke , again had the ring in it which I had from the first remarked . Day after day , however , we sailed on without seeing a whale . At length one day , soon after noon , the first mate having just taken an observation , and the captain being in his cabin , we were cheered by the cry from the masthead of -- `` There she spouts ! There she spouts ! '' The loud tramping of the men on deck roused those below , who quickly sprang up , eager to engage in the expected chase . Among the first who appeared was the captain , who ran up the companion-ladder with as much agility as he had ever displayed .