noon
Even so . Ef we did n't anchor we 'd only be drifted up again , ever so far , an lose all that we 've ben a gainin . We 're not more 'n a mile above Quaco Harbor , but we ca n't fetch it with wind an tide agin us ; so we 've got to put out some distance an anchor . It 's my firm belief that we 'll be in Quaco by noon . The next fallin tide will carry us thar as slick as a whistle , an then we can pursue our investigations . '' The schooner now held on her course for about a mile away from the shore , and then came to anchor . The boys had for a moment lost sight of this unpleasant necessity , and had forgotten that they had been using up the hours of the ebb tide while asleep .