one o'clock precisely
said Harry ; `` that 's capital . '' After breakfast Fred was all in a state of ferment to be off to Trencher Pond . All was new to him , for he did not even know what a stickleback might be , and he longed to see some of these gorgeous fellows that were all over `` gold and green and scarlet . '' They were not long in getting equipped for their trip , for Harry soon produced three willow wands , some twine , worms , and a tin can to hold the spoil ; and , thus provided , away they started , with the full understanding that their dinner would be ready at one o'clock precisely . They had only about a mile to walk down a green lane , and then to turn off on the little common which contained the pond , but that mile took a long time to get over , there was so much to do , to see , and to listen to ; there was the hole where the wasps had a nest to look at ; there were the nimble squirrels to watch as they darted across the road , and , scampering up the trees , peeped down at the visitors to their domains . Ah , how Fred longed to have one of the little bushy-tailed fellows , as he watched their nimble tricks , scampering and leaping from bough to bough as easily and fearlessly as a cat would upon the ground . Then there were so many pretty wildflowers in the banks and hedge-rows ; so many birds to learn the names of , for they were all strangers to Fred , who only knew sparrows -- and they were different to the sparrows down here at Hollowdell -- and canaries and parrots .