noon
You must know as how this old lady were going over the Atlantic for the fust time , being on a voyage from Falmouth to Saint Kitts , in the West h ` Indies ; and she were mighty curious , when she had rekivered from sea-sickness , about all the strange sights o ' the h ` ocean , pestering the cap ` en to death with questions . `` One day she tackled the old man ` bout flying fish . ` Bless me , Mr Capting , ' she says , ` is it really true as how there be fishes as fly hereabouts ? ' `` Now , it were just on to noon that day , and the old man was busy ` bout taking a sight o ' the sun , the same as you 're so handy with , Mister Leigh ; so he says to the old lady , ` I 'm engaged , mum , at present , but if you axes that man there at the wheel while I goes below , he 'll tell you all about it . ' `` So , as soon as he dives down the companion to take the time of the chronometer below , the old lady goes up to the helmsman -- all bridling up and curtseying down , the same as a ship in a heavy head sea . '' ` Good-morning , Mr Sailor , ' says she . '' ` Mornin ' , ' says the man at the wheel , who was a rough old shellback , and did n't waste his words like Pat Doolan here . ''