noon
I would n't dare open it until the time comes ! '' To this the aunt could make no reply , Melas , too , had no wish to linger in Athens after the experience of the day before . The children were in terror of meeting Lampon , and Melas himself felt it would be a great load off his mind to get them safely back to their quiet house on Salamis once more and into their Mother 's care . So they bade Phaon and his wife good-bye and started before noon for the Piræus . At the dock they found the boat ready for its return journey across the bay . Nearby was the large black hull of an African ship , bound for Alexandria . Dion pointed to it .