noon
And now , with your good leave , I follow mine affairs . '' And thrusting on one side the priest , who seemed stupefied at the news , Dick pushed open the door and rattled up the stairs four at a bound , and without pause or stumble , till he stepped upon the open platform at the top . Shoreby Church tower not only commanded the town , as in a map , but looked far , on both sides , over sea and land . It was now near upon noon ; the day exceeding bright , the snow dazzling . And as Dick looked around him , he could measure the consequences of the battle . A confused , growling uproar reached him from the streets , and now and then , but very rarely , the clash of steel . Not a ship , not so much as a skiff remained in harbour ; but the sea was dotted with sails and row-boats laden with fugitives .