twelve o'clock
-- Mr Pittson , you may dismiss them . Are they put into messes ? '' `` All , sir . '' `` It 's twelve o'clock , sir , '' said the master , touching his hat , with his quadrant in his hand . `` Make it so , and pipe to dinner . '' Newton was stationed in the foretop . In a few days the awkwardness arising from the novelty of the scene and from the superior dimensions of every variety of equipment on board of the frigate , compared to the small craft to which he had been accustomed , passed away .