five o’clock
And the sailor , followed by Neb , entered the kitchen , where they were soon absorbed in their culinary labors . They were allowed to do it in their own way . Neb , therefore , prepared a magnificent repast -- the two little peccaries , kangaroo soup , a smoked ham , stone-pine almonds , Oswego tea ; in fact , all the best that they had , but among all the dishes figured in the first rank the savory peccaries . At five o'clock dinner was served in the dining-room of Granite House . The kangaroo soup was smoking on the table . They found it excellent . To the soup succeeded the peccaries , which Pencroft insisted on carving himself , and of which he served out monstrous portions to each of the guests .