eight o'clock
But he said there was plenty of water in the ocean , and to spare ; which was true enough , but then I who had to trot after him with the buckets , had no more legs and arms than I wanted for my own use . I thought this washing down the decks was the most foolish thing in the world , and besides that it was the most uncomfortable . It was worse than my mother 's house-cleanings at home , which I used to abominate so . At eight o'clock the bell was struck , and we went to breakfast . And now some of the worst of my troubles began . For not having had any friend to tell me what I would want at sea , I had not provided myself , as I should have done , with a good many things that a sailor needs ; and for my own part , it had never entered my mind , that sailors had no table to sit down to , no cloth , or napkins , or tumblers , and had to provide every thing themselves . But so it was .