noon
-- Assembling all in an instant , we would massacre the half of the soldiers , salt their flesh , and send it back by those we might spare , with threats of doing the same thing to those who should be bold enough to appear among us afterwards . ' It is not an easy task for any government to deal with such a set of people , Mr Wilmot . '' `` I grant it , '' replied Alexander ; `` and the conviction makes me more anxious to know what has been since done . '' The following morning the wind was very light , and before noon it fell calm . Two sharks of a large size came under the stern of the vessel , and the sailors were soon very busy trying to hook one of them ; but they refused the bait , which was a piece of salt pork , and after an hour they quitted the vessel and disappeared , much to the disappointment both of passengers and ship 's company , the former wishing very much to see the sharks caught , and the latter very anxious to cut them up and fry them for their suppers . `` I thought that sharks always took the bait , '' observed Alexander . `` Not always , as you have now seen , '' replied Mr Swinton ; `` all depends upon whether they are hungry or not .