noon
He noticed with pleasure how trim everything was , how clean was the wood , how polished the brass , and how the flag of Britain snapped in the breeze overhead . He noticed too the eighteen pounders and he knew these were what had done the business for the slaver and pirate . Lanham gave him a hearty welcome . `` It 's half way to noon , '' he said , `` and you slept long and well , as you had a right to do , after saving His Majesty 's twenty-two gun sloop , _ Hawk _ , from the rocks . We had a boat 's crew ashore this morning , not because we doubted your word , but to see that everything was trim and snug on your island , and they found your house . On my word , quite a little castle , and well furnished . We did n't disturb a thing .