noon
Where was the Mowree ? His brown hand was on the boat 's gunwale ; and he was hauled aboard in the very midst of the mad bubbles that burst under the bows . Such a man , or devil , if you will , was Bembo . AFTER the captain left , the land-breeze died away ; and , as is usual about these islands , toward noon it fell a dead calm . There was nothing to do but haul up the courses , run down the jib , and lay and roll upon the swells . The repose of the elements seemed to communicate itself to the men ; and for a time there was a lull . Early in the afternoon , the mate , having left the captain at Papeetee , returned to the ship .