nine o'clock
Beef , pork and bread -- those great desiderata of life , which the European is apt to say form the _ primum mobile _ of American existence -- seemed to engross their thoughts ; and when they were not eating , they were busy with sleep . At length we grew ashamed of watching such mere animals , and turned our thoughts to other subjects . We had understood the Dipper , that eight-and-forty hours must elapse before we might expect to see any more skins ; and Captain Williams , passing from alarm to extreme security , determined to profit by a lovely day , and send down , or rather strip , all three of the top-masts , and pay some necessary attention to their rigging . At nine o'clock , accordingly , the hands were turned-to , and before noon the ship was pretty thoroughly _ en deshabille _ . We sent as little down as possible , keeping even the top-sail-yards aloft , though without their lifts or braces , steadying them by guys ; but the top-masts were lowered as far as was found possible , without absolutely placing the lower yards on the hammock-cloths . In a word , we put the ship in the most unmanageable position , without absolutely littering our decks . The security of the haven , and the extreme beauty of the weather , emboldened the captain to do this ; apprehension of every sort appearing to have quite taken leave of him .