midday
The old man was an expert at locating these shell-fish . The keyhole sign made by them in the sand was so familiar to him that he could walk along at a smart pace , while peering alertly here and there in search of it . When his eyes caught the mark , he would strike quickly with his fork into the yielding sand , and so bring to the surface one of the luscious bivalves . On this occasion , Ichabod filled his bucket well within the hour , and then , content , returned to the shack for a midday meal . When he was done eating , the fisherman washed the clams carefully and wrapped them in a neat bundle . He then took them on board the skiff , and made sail for Beaufort Town , to pay his promised visit to Doctor Hudson , and to present him with the morning 's catch , which was of particularly good quality . In addition , he was prompted to the trip by anxiety to learn if anything had been heard in the town as to the identity of the yacht _ Isabel _ , or of those who voyaged in her .