noon
By ones and twos other bluejackets made their appearance on the water-front . But there was not even a petty officer assigned to the port to meet them . The four friends from Seacove learned that every enlisted man and apprentice they talked with was assigned to the _ Kennebunk _ , and immediately all fraternized . At noon time the bluejackets marched up town in a body to Yancey 's and flocked into that eating place like a swarm of hungry locusts . Abe , the waiter , was just about swamped , and Ikey and Frenchy volunteered to help him serve the vociferous crew . Yancey 's other customers were very much out of it for the time being . They were a noisy crowd , but perfectly good-natured ; and with the freehandedness characteristic of the sailor ashore , bought the best Yancey could provide .