noon
The tortoise is both black and bright . But let us to particulars . Some months before my first stepping ashore upon the group , my ship was cruising in its close vicinity . One noon we found ourselves off the South Head of Albemarle , and not very far from the land . Partly by way of freak , and partly by way of spying out so strange a country , a boat 's crew was sent ashore , with orders to see all they could , and besides , bring back whatever tortoises they could conveniently transport . It was after sunset , when the adventurers returned . I looked down over the ship 's high side as if looking down over the curb of a well , and dimly saw the damp boat , deep in the sea with some unwonted weight .