twelve o'clock
But though the other boarders kept coming in by ones , twos , and threes , and going to bed , yet no sign of my harpooneer . `` Landlord ! said I , `` what sort of a chap is he -- does he always keep such late hours ? '' It was now hard upon twelve o'clock . The landlord chuckled again with his lean chuckle , and seemed to be mightily tickled at something beyond my comprehension . `` No , '' he answered , `` generally he 's an early bird -- airley to bed and airley to rise -- yea , he 's the bird what catches the worm . But to-night he went out a peddling , you see , and I do n't see what on airth keeps him so late , unless , may be , he ca n't sell his head . ''