noon
`` That 's a good sign , '' they heard Green observe to the first lieutenant ; `` we shall have the gale breaking before long . '' Before the watch was out the hurricane had sensibly decreased , showing that the master was right in his prognostication . The sea continued , however , to tumble the ship about terribly until the morning dawned , when the clouds began to disperse , and as the sun rose they appeared to fly before his burning rays . By noon the sky was perfectly clear , when , an observation having been taken , the commander determined to run under the lee of one of the Bonin Islands , which were sighted shortly afterwards . Steam had been got up , and the vessel made rapid way , though she continued to roll considerably , moved by the now glass-like swell , which still came in from the north-east , showing that , although a calm rested on the waters where she was , a storm raged in another part of the ocean . Several islands were now seen rising out of the water on the port bow , and as the _ Dragon _ drew near trees could be distinguished on the hills , showing that they were not as barren as they appeared to be at a distance . Rounding the southern end of one of them , she went on at half speed , feeling her way with the lead until she opened a sheltered bay between two high projecting points .