noon
Seeing that his words carried no conviction , Emerson gave up at last , saying : `` If the Company store wo n't take this money , I 'll sell you whatever you need from the commissary . We are not going to have any trouble over a little thing like this . '' He marched the natives in a body to the storehouse , where he saw to it that they received what provisions they needed and assisted them in loading their canoes . But his amusement at the episode gave way to uneasiness on the following morning when the Aleuts failed to report for work , and by noon his anxiety resolved itself into strong suspicion . Balt had returned from the banks earlier in the morning with news of a struggle between his white crew and Marsh 's men . George 's boats had been surrounded during the night , nets had been cut , and several encounters had occurred , resulting in serious injury to his men . The giant , in no amiable mood , had returned for reinforcements , stating that the situation was becoming more serious every hour .