noon
At first it was doubtful which ship was sailing the fastest ; and Roger thought , in spite of what Sam said , that the stranger was coming up with them , but after a time it became evident that the _ Tiger _ was getting ahead . The Captain told Roger to be careful to mark down their course , as they were standing away from the land to the westward . All day long the chase continued ; there was still some chance of their falling in with another large ship , and if so , they might have to fight after all . It was some hours past noon ; they had already sunk the courses of the stranger below the horizon , but there she was , in her former position , still following , though a dark bank of clouds was now seen rising to the westward , indicating a change of wind , and probably a heavy gale . The clouds rose fast , and came scouring across the blue sky , while the hitherto calm ocean was covered with foam-crested seas , which rose higher and higher . Hamet ordered sail at once to be taken in -- not a moment too soon , for down came the gale , and the stout ship heeled over to it . The _ Tiger _ , however , still kept to the southward .