noon
neither sea nor storm can harm us , if mighty destiny or the ruler of destiny does not permit . And then the stinging fear of surviving either of you , is not here -- one death will clasp us undivided . '' Meanwhile we took in all our sails , save a gib ; and , as soon as we might without danger , changed our course , running with the wind for the Italian shore . Dark night mixed everything ; we hardly discerned the white crests of the murderous surges , except when lightning made brief noon , and drank the darkness , shewing us our danger , and restoring us to double night . We were all silent , except when Adrian , as steersman , made an encouraging observation . Our little shell obeyed the rudder miraculously well , and ran along on the top of the waves , as if she had been an offspring of the sea , and the angry mother sheltered her endangered child . I sat at the prow , watching our course ; when suddenly I heard the waters break with redoubled fury .