noon
Men , '' he added , `` keep your pecker up ! Providence having watched over us thus far will now not desert us , I am confident , and we 'll yet weather on Mr Marline 's circumstances ! '' All hands gave a cheer at this hopeful speech , and the sun having by this time dried our soddened clothes besides warming us , we began to feel more comfortable and easy , the captain 's words giving us fresh courage . Towards noon , however , the heat brought on a most terrific thirst , which was all the more painful from our not seeing any chance of relieving it ; for , although , like the `` ancient mariner , '' we saw `` water , water everywhere , '' there was not a drop of the wholesome fluid , as far as we knew , that we could drink . In this dire calamity , Jackson proved our guardian angel . `` I say , captain , '' he called out , after climbing along the bulwarks down into that part of the waist of the ship which was clear of the sea , letting himself swing down by the end of the topsail halliards which were belayed to the side , `` there 's one of the water-casks lashed here that did not fetch away to leeward with the rest when she canted over ; and it 's full too . If anyone has got a hat , or anything that I can draw off the water in , I will start the bung and we can all splice the main - brace . ''