noon
The four set up watches , two to a watch , four hours at a stretch . They settled down to a long search . At Siasi they would be at the center of the Sulu Archipelago , and would leave the Sulu Sea behind and enter the Celebes Sea . The sun blazed down from nearly overhead at noon until the caulking in the deck bubbled and the sea seemed to steam . They were less than six degrees above the Equator now . Vintas dotted the waters close to the islands , but they were apparently peaceful Samal fishermen . There was no sign of a pirate fleet .