noon
There was excellent bread and cheese , and fruit of various sorts , and some fried fish , though certainly there was neither beef nor pork , while the _ vin du pays _ was of a somewhat thin and sour description . A few bottles of fiery hot _ eau de vie _ would have suited the taste of the honest tars much better . This day , like the former one , passed away , and nobody came near the prisoners ; they all wished that the time was come when they were to make the attempt to escape . The next day , at noon , a much larger supply of provisions was brought to them . Two men accompanied their friend , the corporal , to carry them . He also carried a good-sized basket , which he deposited in a corner of the chamber , and then nodding , without saying a word , hurried down the steps ; as if their friends outside had divined their wishes , there were half-a-dozen bottles of brandy ! Morton and Rawson were examining the contents of the corporal 's basket .