noon
He had made himself chief engineer , and his orders were obeyed , as evidenced by the tranquil silence that emanated from the engine room when Sampson returned at four in the afternoon . All day the boat lay with quiet engines and a bare head of steam , rolling slightly in a swell that now came from the east , while the sun shone brightly overhead from east to west , and only a few specks appeared on the horizon , to remain for a time , and vanish . Meanwhile Florrie worried Denman with questions that he could not answer . `` Forsythe took sights in the morning , '' he explained at length , `` and a meridian observation at noon . He has undoubtedly found another ` pocket , ' as I call these triangular spaces between the routes ; but I do not know where we are , except that , computing our yesterday and last night 's run , we are within from sixty to a hundred miles of New York . '' He was further mystified when , on going into his room for a cigar after supper , he found his suit of `` citizen 's clothes '' missing from its hook . `` Not the same thief , '' he grumbled .