Noon
Show that you 're British seamen to the last ! '' The men uttered a faint cheer when the captain , leaning on the purser 's arm , returned . Captain Drury , who had fought the ship so bravely after Captain Bouchier was wounded , was the life and soul of all on board . Noon had passed , and still the stout ship lay rolling in the trough of the sea . Inch by inch the water was rising , and we knew that if we were to cease pumping and baling , it would gain upon us still more rapidly . Already despair could be seen on nearly every countenance . Notwithstanding , few , if any , flinched from their work .