noon
But good did come of the apple barrel , as you shall hear , for if it had not been for that we should have had no note of warning and might all have perished by the hand of treachery . This is how it came about . We had run up the trades to get the wind of the island we were after -- I am not allowed to be more plain -- and now we were running down for it with a bright lookout day and night . It was about the last day of our outward voyage , by the largest computation ; some time that night , or , at latest , before noon of the morrow , we should sight the Treasure Island . We were heading south-southwest , and had a steady breeze abeam and a quiet sea . The _ Hispaniola _ rolled steadily , dipping her bowsprit now and then with a whiff of spray . All was drawing alow and aloft ; everyone was in the bravest spirits , because we were now so near an end of the first part of our adventure .