noon
Captain Carton had , in the boat by him , a curious long-barrelled Spanish gun , and he had said to Miss Maryon one day that it was the best of guns , and had turned his head to me , and said : `` Gill Davis , load her fresh with a couple of slugs , against a chance of showing how good she is . '' So , I had discharged the gun over the sea , and had loaded her , according to orders , and there it had lain at the Captain 's feet , convenient to the Captain 's hand . The last day but one of our journey was an uncommonly hot day . We started very early ; but , there was no cool air on the sea as the day got on , and by noon the heat was really hard to bear , considering that there were women and children to bear it . Now , we happened to open , just at that time , a very pleasant little cove or bay , where there was a deep shade from a great growth of trees . Now , the Captain , therefore , made the signal to the other boats to follow him in and lie by a while . The men who were off duty went ashore , and lay down , but were ordered , for caution 's sake , not to stray , and to keep within view .