midday
`` Yes , '' said Rollo ; `` they are all going home to dinner . '' Rollo , however , soon found that all the men were not going home to dinner , for great numbers of them began to make preparations for dining in the yard . They began to establish themselves in little groups , three or four together , in nooks and corners , under the sheds , wherever they could find the most convenient arrangement of boxes and bales to serve for chairs and tables . When established in these places , they proceeded to open the stores which they had provided for their dinners , the said stores being contained in sundry baskets , pails , and cans , which had been concealed all the morning in various hiding-places among the piles of merchandise , and were now brought forth to furnish the owners with their midday meal . One of these parties , Rollo found , had a very convenient way of getting ale to drink with their dinner . There was a row of barrels lying on the quay near where they had established themselves to dine ; and two of the party went to one of these barrels , and , starting out the bung , they helped themselves to as much ale as they required . They got the ale out of the barrel by means of a long and narrow glass , with a string around the neck of it , and a very thick and heavy bottom .