twelve
o’clock
oh ! '' exclaimed Paul , while little Wagtail lay back laughing like to die ; but the next instant Bang gave another struggle , or wallop , like a pelloch in shoal-water , whereby Pepperpot borrowed a good kick on the side of the head , and down came the Great Ostrich , Aaron Bang , but without any feather in his tail , as I can avouch , slap upon the table , smashing cups and saucers , and hominy , and devil knows what all , to pieces , as he floundered on the board . This was so absurd , that we were all obliged to give uncontrolled course to our mirth for a minute or two , when , making the best of the wreck , we contrived to breakfast in tolerable comfort . Soon after the meal was finished , a light air enabled us once more to lie our course , and we gradually crept to the northward , until twelve o'clock in the forenoon , after which time it fell calm again . I went down to the cabin ; Bang had been overhauling my small library , when a shelf gave way -LRB- the whole affair having been injured by a round shot in the action , which had tom right through the cabin -RRB- , so down came several scrolls , rolled up , and covered with brown paper . `` What are all these ? '' I could hear our friend say .