noon
Next day several boats fished right above the cap of the Virgin ; and Harvey , with them , looked down on the very weed of that lonely rock , which rises to within twenty feet of the surface . The cod were there in legions , marching solemnly over the leathery kelp . When they bit , they bit all together ; and so when they stopped . There was a slack time at noon , and the dories began to search for amusement . It was Dan who sighted the Hope of Prague just coming up , and as her boats joined the company they were greeted with the question : `` Who 's the meanest man in the Fleet ? '' Three hundred voices answered cheerily : `` Nick Bra-ady . '' It sounded an organ chant .