twelve o’clock
Come , old dog ! '' The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master , and caresses were lavished on him . It was agreed that there was no other way of accounting for the rescue of Cyrus Harding , and that Top deserved all the honor of the affair . Towards twelve o'clock , Pencroft having asked the engineer if they could now remove him , Harding , instead of replying , and by an effort which exhibited the most energetic will , got up . But he was obliged to lean on the sailor , or he would have fallen . `` Well done ! '' cried Pencroft ; `` bring the captain 's litter . ''