noon
He seemed a little disconcerted on observing Ned , who addressed him in English , French , and Spanish , but without eliciting any reply , save a grunt . This , however , did not surprise our hero , who recognised the man to be a Sandwich Islander whom he had met before in the village , and whose powers of diving were well-known to the miners . He ascertained by signs , however , that there was much gold at the bottom of the stream , which , doubtless , the diver could not detach from the rocks during the short period of his immersion , so he hastened back to the tent , determined to promulgate his plan to his comrades . It was noon when he arrived , and the miners were straggling from all parts of the diggings to the huts , tents , and restaurants . `` Ha ! Maxton , glad I 've found you alone , '' cried Ned , seating himself on an empty box before the fire , over which the former was engaged in culinary operations . `` I have been thinking over a plan for turning the course of the stream , and so getting at a portion of its bed . ''