noon
she exclaimed . `` Oh , tell me at once , Mr. Howard , indeed , indeed , I can bear it . '' With the tenderness of a father , Mr. Howard gently and soothingly told her that letters had that morning arrived from Edward 's captain , informing them that the young lieutenant had been despatched with a boat 's crew , on a message to a ship stationed about twelve miles southward , towards the Cape of Good Hope ; a storm had arisen as the night darkened , but still Captain Seaforth had felt no uneasiness , imagining his young officer had deemed it better remaining on board the Stranger all night , though somewhat contrary to his usual habits of promptness and activity . As the day , however , waned to noon , and still Lieutenant Fortescue did not appear , the captain despatched another boat to know why he tarried . The sea was still raging in fury from the last night 's storm , but the foaming billows had never before detained Edward from his duty . With increasing anxiety , Captain Seaforth paced the deck for several hours , until indeed the last boat he had sent returned . He scanned the crew with an eye that never failed him , and saw with dismay , that neither his lieutenant nor one of his men were amongst them .