noon
Happily , the heaviest portion of the work was done , and Captain Truck determined , rather than risk another conflict with a force that was so much augmented , to get the spars on board , and to take the ship outside of the reef , without waiting to complete her equipment . His first orders , therefore , when all hands were mustered , were for the boats to get in the kedges and the stream anchor , and otherwise to prepare to move the vessel . In the mean time other gangs were busy in getting the rigging over the mast-heads , and in setting it up . As the lifting of the anchors with boats was heavy work , by the time they were got on board and stowed it was noon , and all the yards were aloft , though not a sail was bent in the vessel . Captain Truck , while the people were eating , passed through the ship examining every stay and shroud : there were some make-shifts it is true , but on the whole he was satisfied , though he plainly saw that the presence of the Arabs had hurried matters a little , and that a good many drags would have to be given as soon as they got beyond danger , and that some attention must be paid to seizings still , what had been done would answer very well for moderate weather , and it was too late to stop to change . The trade wind had returned , and blew steadily as if finally likely to stand ; and the water outside of the reef was smooth enough to permit the required alterations , now that the heavier spars were in their places . The appearance of the Montauk certainly was not as stately and commanding as before the wreck , but there was an air of completeness about it that augured well .