the sun at noon
For the rest -- you can spin it out in yarns when you come back . '' Nothing worthy of particular note occurred during the boat-voyage along the northern shore of Java to Sunda Straits . A fair , steady breeze wafted them westward , and , on the morning of the third day , they came in sight of the comparatively small uninhabited island of Krakatoa . The boat in which they voyaged , although a little one , had a small portion of the bow decked over , so that our hero and his sable friend could find shelter from the night air when disposed to sleep , and from the fierce rays of the sun at noon . By the advice of his father , Nigel had changed his sailor costume for the `` shore-goin ' toggery '' in which he had landed on the Keeling Islands , as being more suitable to his new character as a traveller , namely , a white cloth cap with a peak in front and a curtain behind to protect his neck , a light-grey tunic belted at the waist , and a pair of strong canvas trousers . He had also purchased an old-fashioned double-barrelled fowling-piece , muzzle-loading and with percussion locks . `` For you see , Nigel , '' the captain had said , `` it 's all very well to use breech-loaders when you 've got towns and railways and suchlike to supply you wi ' cartridges , but when you 've got to cruise in out-o ' - the-way waters , there 's nothin ' like the old style .