about three
o'clock
`` I must be paid for my trouble , sir , if you please . '' Vanslyperken had again to pull out his purse ; but this time he hardly felt the annoyance , for in his mind 's eye his neck was already in the halter . He put the money into the man 's hand without speaking , and then left the room , the landlady courtesying very low , and hoping that she soon should again have the pleasure of his company at the Wheatsheaf . But we must return to the cabin , and state what took place during this long absence of the commander , who had gone on shore about three o'clock , and had given directions for his boat to be at the Point at sunset . There had been a council of war held on the forecastle , in which Corporal Van Spitter and Smallbones were the most prominent ; and the meeting was held to debate whether they should or should not make one more attempt to destroy the dog ; singular that the arguments and observations very nearly coincided with those mane use of by Vanslyperken and his mother , when they debated how to get rid of Smallbones . `` Water wo n't touch him , I sees that , '' observed Smallbones . `` No .