midday
Whether he was drifting up or down the bay he could not tell for certain . His recollection of the state of the tide at Petitcodiac , was but vague . He reckoned , however , from the ship launch of the preceding day , and then , allowing sufficient time for the difference in the tide , he approximated to a correct conclusion . If it were midday , he thought that the tide would be about half way down on the ebb . These thoughts , and acts , and calculations took up some time , and he now began to look around him . Suddenly his eye caught sight of something not far away , dimly visible through the mist . It looked like a rock .