midday
But nobody knows , either fore or aft , except the interested persons , and they will not say anything . Yet the ship is abuzz with rumours and guesses . This I do know : Mr. Pike has received a fearful blow on the head . At table , yesterday , at midday , I arrived late , and , passing behind his chair , I saw a prodigious lump on top of his head . When I was seated , facing him , I noted that his eyes seemed dazed ; yes , and I could see pain in them . He took no part in the conversation , ate perfunctorily , behaved stupidly at times , and it was patent that he was controlling himself with an iron hand . And nobody dares ask him what has happened .