noon
Howsever , I 'm all right when I get on the rock , and that 's the main thing . '' Ruby and his friend now entered upon a long and earnest conversation as to their peculiar duties at the Bell Rock , with which we will not trouble the reader . After breakfast they went on deck , and here Ruby had sufficient to occupy his attention and to amuse him for some hours . As the tide that day did not fall low enough to admit of landing on the rock till noon , the men were allowed to spend the time as they pleased . Some therefore took to fishing , others to reading , while a few employed themselves in drying their clothes , which had got wet the previous day , and one or two entertained themselves and their comrades with the music of the violin and flute . All were busy with one thing or another , until the rock began to show its black crest above the smooth sea . Then a bell was rung to summon the artificers to land .