nearly
noon before
`` I jest wants t ' see yo ' start fer that place where they buries live folks , '' he said . In order to properly test the _ Flying Mermaid _ it was necessary to move the craft from the shed from which place it had never been taken since it 's construction was started . It had been built on big rollers in anticipation of this need , so that all which was now necessary was to open the doors at the end , and roll the craft out . This was accomplished with no small amount of labor , and it was nearly noon before the big ship was moved into the open . It was shoved along to a little clearing in front of the shed , where no trees would interfere with its possible upward movement . Everyone was bustling about . The professor was busiest of all .