noon
He heard something whistle by his ear . Catching up the paddles again , he pulled madly out of the creek , and away for the opposite bank of the river ; ran his boat in ; and , seizing the portmanteau , without attempt to ship the oars or fasten the painter , leapt out ; climbed , slipped , and staggered over the slippery stones ; and fled up the hill as though a thousand fiends were at his heels . `` Well , sir , '' remarked Caleb at ten o'clock that evening , after an hour 's watching had passed and brought no sign of a ghost , `` I wish this ` ere sperrit , ef sperrit et be , wud put hissel ' out to be punkshal . They do say as the Queen must wait while her beer 's a-drawin ' ; but et strikes me ghost-seein ' es apt to be like Boscas ` le Fair , which begins twelve an ' ends at noon . '' Caleb caressed a huge blunderbuss which lay across his knee , and caused Mr. Fogo no slight apprehension . `` Et puts me i ' mind , '' he went on , as his master was silent , `` o ' th ' ould lidden -LSB- 1 -RSB- as us used to sing when us was tiny mites : -- '' Riddle me , riddle me , riddle me right , Where was I last Sat ` rday night ? I seed a chimp-champ champin ' at his bridle , I seed an ould fox workin ' hissel ' idle .