noon
Then , just as he was about to strike , the cetacean would steal off with a swiftness I could estimate at no less than thirty miles per hour . And even at our maximum speed , it took the liberty of thumbing its nose at the frigate by running a full circle around us ! A howl of fury burst from every throat ! By noon we were no farther along than at eight o'clock in the morning . Commander Farragut then decided to use more direct methods . `` Bah ! '' he said .