noon
`` We felt certain of her escape , and indeed depended upon the information she would convey of our predicament for the despatch of assistance . '' `` She had not put in an appearance up to the time of our starting at noon yesterday , nor have we seen any sign of her during our passage up the stream , '' was the reply . `` You were due to return , you know , the evening before last , and when yesterday morning came , without your appearance , Captain Vernon became uneasy . He allowed you until noon , however ; but when noon passed , leaving you still _ non est _ , he came to the conclusion that something was amiss , and despatched us in quest of you at once . So this is the scene of the struggle , eh ? '' as the boats grounded on the beach of the island . `` A pretty scene of ruin it is . ''