About twelve o'clock
During the forenoon there was but little change in the condition of affairs . The wind decreased until it was nothing more than a good sailing breeze ; but the expected calm did not come . The boat reeled off the knots in fine style , despite the poor apology for a sail , and the boys were allowed to change their position , which they did by sitting on the after thwart . About twelve o'clock Jake stretched himself out on the bottom for a nap , awakening one of the sleepers that the man at the helm might have assistance in case he should require it , and the boys alternately dozed or searched the horizon in vain for some signs of the other boats . Those who were hungry ate whenever it pleased them to do so , and there was no lack of either food or water . Teddy would have talked with his friend regarding the prospects of reaching home within a reasonable length of time ; but Neal was so anxious about his father that he could speak of nothing else . Toward the close of the day the wind freshened again , and , in obedience to his previous orders , Jake was awakened , the man at the helm saying in an apologetic tone : `` I can hold on here a good bit longer ; but you wanted to know if there was any change , an ' there is .