noon
Toward eleven o'clock the breeze freshened to such an extent that the yacht sped along on her course with great fleetness . In the morning the sun arose amid a purple haze , and the Mediterranean presented a more tumultuous and threatening aspect than it had the preceding day . The breeze was still blowing stiffly , and the lightning continued . Giacomo informed Monte-Cristo that unless a calm should suddenly come on they would certainly arrive at Crete by noon . The sailors , he added , were in good spirits , and might be relied upon , though they were much fatigued by reason of their unceasing labor . At ten o'clock the man at the wheel hurriedly summoned the captain to his side , and , with a look of terror and bewilderment , directed his attention to the compass , the needle of which no longer pointed to the north , but was dancing a mad dance , not remaining stationary for a single instant . To complicate the situation still further , the sun was suddenly obscured , absolute darkness invading both sea and sky .