half past twelve
How slowly she advanced ! The breeze was very , very feeble , and perhaps soon it would drop altogether ! We felt that we would give years of our life to know the result of the coming hour . At half past twelve the captain and the boatswain considered that the brig was about nine miles away ; she had , therefore , gained only three miles in an hour and a half , and it was doubtful whether the light breeze that had been passing over our heads had reached her at all . I fancied , too , that her sails were no longer filled , but were hanging loose against her masts . Turning to the direction of the wind , I tried to make out some chance of a rising breeze ; but no , the waves were calm and torpid , and the little puff of air that had aroused our hopes had died away across the sea . I stood aft with M. Letourneur , Andre and Miss Herbey , and our glances perpetually wandered from the distant ship to our captain 's face .