midday
But his companions thought that they perceived that he was less eager to set out . They therefore concluded that he saw that the enterprise was impracticable , which they had also believed for some time . But they were mistaken . On the 25th of March , at midday , the repairs of the `` Alaska '' were completed , and she was once more afloat in the harbor of L'Orient . Night was closing in when Erik summoned his three friends and counselors to hold a serious consultation . `` I have reflected a great deal , '' he said to them , `` upon the circumstances which have made our voyage memorable since we left Stockholm . I have been forced to arrive at one conclusion , which is that we must expect to meet with obstacles or accidents during our voyage .