noon
He refused to behave himself , and Peaks thrust him into the brig. The gale continued to blow ugly and gusty during the day , until eight bells in the afternoon . The fog hung heavy over the ocean , and the bell was rung every five minutes , in accordance with the English Admiralty instructions . The ship had been standing close-hauled to the north-north-west since noon , when she had tacked , at the warning of the fog signal , made at some light station on the coast of France , in the vicinity of Cape de La Hague . For four hours she had been on her present course , and was therefore approaching the coast of England again . At the beginning of the first dog-watch , there were some signs of a change of weather . The fog appeared to be lifting , and the wind came in less violent gusts .