noon
I asked . `` He did n't speak , but he moved his eyes to look at them , '' said the mate . After waiting a moment , Mr. Burns motioned the crew to leave the cabin , but he detained the two eldest men to stay with the captain while he went on deck with his sextant to `` take the sun . '' It was getting toward noon and he was anxious to obtain a good observation for latitude . When he returned below to put his sextant away he found that the two men had retreated out into the lobby . Through the open door he had a view of the captain lying easy against the pillows . He had `` passed away '' while Mr. Burns was taking this observation .