three o'clock
`` Oh , '' interrupted Musgrave , `` you need not take the trouble of explaining sea terms to _ me _ ; they are as natural to me as my native tongue almost . '' `` I forgot , '' replied I , `` that you are a chip of the same block ; so I will continue my _ yarn _ -- you see I have picked up a little sea-lingo too . After I had transacted my business with Captain Trimmer , he pressed me to stay and partake of family fare . '' `` We pipe to dinner at six-bells , '' said he ; `` three o'clock , I mean . You will have plain fare and a sailor 's welcome ; which , you know , is a warm one either to friend or foe . '' I accepted his frank invitation with pleasure ; and , as it still wanted an hour to dinner-time , he proposed that we should `` take a cruise '' through the grounds till `` the grub '' was ready . During the walk , he amused me greatly with his tales of the sea ; but I was often obliged to request him to interpret terms which were as unintelligible to me as Hebrew or Sanscrit .