nearly noon
The delight of the poor fellows was unbounded . They fell down before their rescuers , worshipping them ; then they rushed up on deck , dancing and singing like a mob of children let loose from confinement . There was plenty of excellent food aboard , and for once the rowers fed sumptuously . The breeze continuing , all save the three commanders and the deck hands laid themselves down and slept until nearly noon . Then labour began again . The wind still held strongly , so the natives were put to work cleansing the slave-deck of its accumulated filth . The chains , save about a score of the strongest sets , were tossed overboard .