noon
Tom was nearer to excitement than I had ever seen him ; he grew voluble ; praised the captain , admired his talk , and declared adventure to be abroad in the air -- in fact , threw up his head as though he scented it . Yes , adventure was in the air . It was not exactly to my taste , however , nor did the thought of my poor mother at home make me more sympathetic with Tom 's ecstasy ; so whilst he chattered I strode gloomily forward over the beach . The day was drawing towards noon . October was revelling in an after-taste of summer , and smiled in broad glory over beach and sea . A light breeze bore eastward a few fleecy clouds , and the waves danced and murmured before its breath . Their salt scent was in our nostrils , and the glitter of the sand in our eyes .