noon
`` P'rhaps we hab anoder adventure ! Who can say ? '' he muttered to himself . It was getting well on toward noon when , both prizes having been thoroughly overhauled , and such deficiencies as were discovered made good from the stores of the _ Shark _ , Mr Fawcett and I formally took over our own respective commands , and the three craft weighed and made sail in company . I confess that I felt in exceedingly buoyant spirits , and the pain of my wounds was completely forgotten as , with young Keene beside me , I stumped fore and aft on the short quarter-deck of the schooner and keenly compared her behaviour with that of her bigger companions . The sea breeze was piping up strong , and there was enough sea running to render the advantage all in favour of the two brigs ; yet , notwithstanding this , we were able to spare the _ Shark _ our topgallant - sail and still keep pace with her . But , good as was the schooner , the _ Dona Inez _ was better ; so much better , indeed , that , in order to avoid running away from us , Fawcett was obliged not only to furl both topgallant-sails , but also to take a single reef in both topsails , while , even then , the brig persisted in creeping ahead , and had to be constantly checked by keeping the weather leaches of her topsails a - shiver .