noon
But 't was no manner of use . As soon as he touched land a dozen jumped for him and pulled him down . They handled him as gentle as they could , for he fought with fists , legs , and teeth , and his language was awful : but my grandfather in his foresight had brought along a couple of wainropes , and within ten minutes they had my gentleman trussed , heaved him into the boat , covered him over , and were rowing him off and down the creek to land him at Helford Quay . By this 't was past noon ; and at one o'clock , or a little before , Parson Polwhele come striding along home from Little Dinnis . He had tied a handkerchief about his head to keep off the sun ; his hands and knees were coated with earth ; and he sweated like a furze-bush in a mist , for the footpath led through cornfields and the heat was something terrible . Moreover , he had just called the funeral to mind ; and this and the damage he 'd left at Little Dinnis fairly hurried him into a fever . But worse was in store .