three o’clock
The honest sailor did not hide his regret at being reduced for dinner to the singing pheasants , but fortune once more showed itself obliging to him . In fact , Top , who felt that his interest was concerned went and ferreted everywhere with an instinct doubled by a ferocious appetite . It was even probable that if some piece of game did fall into his clutches , none would be left for the hunters , if Top was hunting on his own account ; but Neb watched him and he did well . Towards three o'clock the dog disappeared in the brushwood and gruntings showed that he was engaged in a struggle with some animal . Neb rushed after him , and soon saw Top eagerly devouring a quadruped , which ten seconds later would have been past recognizing in Top 's stomach . But fortunately the dog had fallen upon a brood , and besides the victim he was devouring , two other rodents -- the animals in question belonged to that order -- lay strangled on the turf . Neb reappeared triumphantly holding one of the rodents in each hand .