twelve o'clock
`` But if the _ Northampton _ has gone , how is it that you are here , Tom ? '' `` Simply because she has gone without me , Dick . The old man was in a furious rage when he heard in the morning what had happened to you . Of course , we were in a great stew -- I mean the third mate and myself -- when Allen came off at twelve o'clock without you , after waiting an hour and a half at the wharf for you to turn up . We all felt sure that something must have happened , or you would never have been all that time late . There was a row between Allen and the skipper the first thing in the morning . Allen wanted to go ashore to make inquiries about you , and the old man would not let him , and said that no doubt you had deserted , but that if you came on board again he would have you put in irons .