twelve
o’clock
Shipbuilding was interrupted for a week for the harvest , the haymaking , and the gathering in of the different crops on the plateau . This work finished , every moment was devoted to finishing the schooner . When night came the workmen were really quite exhausted . So as not to lose any time they had changed the hours for their meals ; they dined at twelve o'clock , and only had their supper when daylight failed them . They then ascended to Granite House , when they were always ready to go to bed . Sometimes , however , when the conversation bore on some interesting subject the hour for sleep was delayed for a time . The colonists then spoke of the future , and talked willingly of the changes which a voyage in the schooner to inhabited lands would make in their situation .