noon
The English ship , if such she was , finding herself so far to leeward , had probably abandoned all hope of overtaking us . At length the coast of France hove in sight . We looked at it as likely to prove our home for many a weary day . It was past noon when we anchored in the harbour of Saint Malo , and I could not be surprised at the exultation of the Frenchmen , when they found themselves surrounded by no less than five prizes , which they had taken in the course of two or three weeks . Their friends in numbers came off to welcome them , and brought all sorts of wines and spirits , and provisions from the shore , far more indeed than the crew could by possibility consume . The wine and spirits , however , seemed to be most welcome , and the crew , having an abundance of wherewithal to carouse , sat down to make themselves happy . Never have I heard a set of human beings jabber away at the rate they did ; they laughed , and sang , and pledged each other without cessation .