noon
The quarter from which the wind came was neither favourable nor adverse , being on the beam . Had they had sails for the boats , it would have been otherwise , but they had been stowed away , and could not be procured . The sight of land naturally rejoiced them all , and the seamen in the boat cheered , and double-banked the oars , to increase their way ; but the towing of a large raft sunk under water was no easy task ; and they could not , with all their exertions , advance more than half a mile an hour . Until noon they continued their exertions not without success ; they were not three miles from the land ; but , as the sun passed the meridian a change took place ; the breeze blew strong ; the swell of the sea rose rapidly ; and the raft was often so deeply immersed in the waves as to alarm them for the safety of those upon her . Their way was proportionably retarded , and by three o'clock they had not gained half a mile from where they had been at noon . The men not having had refreshment of any kind during the labour and excitement of so many hours , began to flag in their exertions . The wish for water was expressed by all -- from the child who appealed to its mother , to the seaman who strained at the oar .