noon
With this the lanky shepherd strolled forward and seating himself upon the top of the boys ' sleeping place in the bow , smoked his pipe in meditative comfort . His estimate in regard to the destination of the Sea Eagle proved to be correct . For in the early afternoon the ship passed under the lee of the long island and was steaming up the channel between it and the mainland , which was distant some thirty-five miles . The fog had cleared by noon , and there was that complete transition to brilliant , sunny weather . There was a sort of a white haze along the distant coast and beyond far inland , rose the faint summits of the high mountains . Fortunately Juarez and Tom had a chance to observe their new surroundings for they had been set to work sewing on a small sail that was to be used in one of the boats . They sat upon the top of one of the hatches , under the watchful eyes of old Pete and the philosophic gaze of the shepherd .