noon
He had eaten all he wanted unknown to the others , and looked with an unmoved face at Enderby soaking some biscuit in the tin for his wife . Then , with the ragged sail fluttering to the wind , Langton headed the boat through the passage into the glassy waters of the lagoon , and the two tottering men , leading the woman between them , sought the shelter of a thicket scrub , impenetrable to the rays of the sun , and slept . And then for a week Enderby went and scoured the reefs for food for her . * * * * * One day at noon Enderby awoke . The woman still slept heavily , the first sign of returning strength showing as a faint tinge in the pallor of her cheek . Langton was gone . A sudden chill passed over him -- had Langton taken the boat and left them to die on lonely Ducie ?