noon
On awaking next morning , I found that the breeze had freshened very considerably during the night , so much so indeed that when I went on deck the `` Vigilant '' was tearing through it with her lee-rail under , although the lateens were reefed to their utmost capacity . There was a very awkward jump of a sea on already , and it was fast increasing ; but the light beamy little craft , although she tossed the spray in blinding showers from her weather-bow right aft and out over her lee quarter , never shipped a drop of green water , and I was highly delighted at her excellent sea-going qualities . I thought , however , that she would take the seas much more easily if she were relieved of the strain and leverage aloft of her long heavy swaying yards ; I therefore had the lateens taken in and the lugs substituted for them , and was rewarded for my trouble by finding my anticipations amply realised . The wind continued to increase all through the morning , and by noon it was blowing quite a fresh gale , with a correspondingly heavy sea . At five p.m. the lookout reported a sail about two points on our weather-bow . `` What do you make her out to be ? '' demanded I. `` She looks large enough for a frigate , '' replied the man ; `` but I shall have a better sight of her in a few minutes , sir ; she is steering this way . ''