noon
The ship was kept a little away , in order to give this island a berth , and the gale drove her through the water at the rate of seven or eight knots . This , however , was far from being our whole speed , the tide sweeping us onward at a furious rate , in addition . Even Captain Williams thought we must be passing that rock at the rate of fifteen knots ! It was noon , and there was no abatement in the tempest , no change in the current , no means of returning , no chance of stopping ; away we were driven , like events ruled by fate . The only change was the gradual clearing up of the atmosphere , as we receded from the ocean , and got farther removed from its mists and spray . Perhaps the power of the gale had , in a small degree , abated , by two o'clock , and it would have been possible to carry some short sail ; but there being no sea to injure us , it was unnecessary , and the ship continued to drive ahead , under bare poles . Night was the time to dread .