noon
But the Captain who had often seen the _ Boodah _ , was log-writing in the chart-room ... As her ensign of greeting ran up her main , her clocks struck twelve , the full noon -- like an omen -- come ; she not then three miles from the _ Boodah _ . And simultaneously with the hoisting of that ensign , and the striking of those clocks , the old-worn wheels of Roman Civilization stopped dead . The _ Boodah _ ran up the signal : `` _ Stop ! _ '' Those who understood rubbed their eyes : it was like a vision at high noon ; they could not believe . At that news the Captain , a handsome fair-bearded man , rushed like a madman from pilot-house to bridge , and the startled passengers saw his lighted eyes . He had some moments of indecision ; then down he , too , rang that word : `` _ Stop _ '' . The engines left off ; the _ Kaiser 's _ speed , as from heart-failure , gave in , died away .