eleven o'clock
Now , what do you say ? '' I had a sufficient knowledge of American colloquialisms to be aware that the expression `` thirty per '' meant thirty dollars -- or six pounds -- per month , which was considerably better than I had hoped for , or was at all likely to get elsewhere . I liked the ship , and I was immensely taken with my prospective new skipper ; therefore I at once unhesitatingly and gratefully accepted the offer . I was then gracefully dismissed , with instructions to be prepared to `` sign on '' at eleven o'clock on the morrow , and to have my dunnage aboard not later than noon , since the yacht would haul out of dock and proceed down the river early in the afternoon . I had taken my leave of Mrs Vansittart , and was already out on deck on my way to the gangway , when the lady rushed after me and called upon me to stop , exclaiming : `` Sakes alive ! what 's come over me ? I declare to goodness I clean forgot that you have n't yet been measured for your uniforms .