noon
await developments . Charlie Webster might be expected any moment with his reinforcements , and then ! -- `` Lay on , Macduff ! '' While we had been talking , Samson had long since been on his way with the word to Sweeney to look out for Webster , and , as he had been admonished to hurry back , it was scarcely noon when he returned , bringing in exchange a verbal message from Sweeney . `` The pock-marked party , '' ran the message as delivered by Samson , `` had left the harbour in his sloop that morning . Yes , sar ! '' `` Ha !