twelve o'clock
As he said nothing more , the jailer went away , and Bumpus , after heaving two or three very deep sighs , attempted to partake of his meagre breakfast . The effort was a vain one . The bite stuck in his throat , so he washed it down with a gulp of water , and , for the first time in his life , made up his mind to go without his breakfast . A little before twelve o'clock the door again opened , and the surly jailer entered bearing a halter , and accompanied by six stout men . The irons were now removed from Bumpus 's wrists , and his arms pinioned behind his back . Being almost stupified with amazement at his position , he submitted without a struggle . `` I say , friends , '' he at last exclaimed , `` would any amount of oaths took before a maginstrate convince ye that I 'm not a pirate , but a true-blue seaman ? ''