twelve o'clock
They saw no one moving about there , and supposed that they must all be asleep , for the sun was low down on the horizon . Godfrey 's watch was still going , but as he had had no opportunity of comparing it with any other timepiece for just a year , he could only consider it to be an approximate guide . Once a month or so he had made a point of setting it . This he did by sticking up a pole and measuring the shadow it cast , knowing that this would be at its shortest at twelve o'clock . By this means he calculated that he was never more than half an hour wrong . The shore continued very flat , and once or twice they saw sand-banks stretching out a considerable distance . Sometimes both paddled , sometimes Godfrey steered only and Luka laid in his paddle .