half past twelve
By this time I had a scheme arranged in my mind for the conveyance of the forces to Cleaver Island , and the leader did me the honor to appoint me master of transportation . I stated my plan to Vallington and two or three of the more influential of the boys . It was cordially approved . At half past twelve the dinner bell of the Institute rang , as usual ; and the boys , who had no idea of being deprived of their rations , marched in to dinner in order ; and I went home with Bob Hale , who had invited me to dine with him . On our return , we learned that Mr. Parasyte had made a stirring appeal to the students , in the dining-room , to support the discipline of the school , and had intimated that he intended to prosecute Thornton in the courts for the assault upon him . I was rather startled at this intelligence , for a court was an appalling affair to me . The boys heard in silence what the principal had to say , and left the dining-room in as good order as usual .