noon
Most of the houses had a higher story , and they took only those who had no refuge . Many more , however , drank of their coffee and ate of their bread . The whole of the morning they spent thus , calling , on their passages , wherever they thought they could get help or find accommodation . By noon a score of boats were out rendering similar assistance . The water was higher than it had been for many years , and was still rising . Faber had laid hands upon an old tub of a salmon-coble , and was the first out after the curate . But there was no fun in the poor doctor 's boat .