about noon
`` Wo n't drag anchor , will he ? '' `` Stand all day if you 'll let him . '' `` Well , Jed , I 'm ready to sign articles , I guess . '' It was about noon that a stable-boy delivered Barnacles at Sculpin Point . His arrival caused Lank Peters to suspend peeling the potatoes for dinner and demand explanation . `` Who 's the hoss for , Cap'n ? '' asked Lank .