about noon
He plunged and disappeared for a few minutes , and then would come up again close to where my line was ; but he disturbed the fish , and I could not catch any . To drive him further off , I pelted him with pieces of rock , one of which hit him very hard , and he dived down . After a time I pulled up my line , and whistling to him to return , although I did not see him , I went away to the cabin , fully expecting that he would soon follow me , for now he could walk -LRB- after his fashion -RRB- from the cabin to the pool as he pleased . This was early in the morning , and I busied myself with my garden , which was now in great luxuriance , for I had dressed it with guano ; but observing about noon that he had not returned , I became uneasy , and went down to the pool to look for him . He was not there , and I looked on the sea , but could not perceive him anywhere . I called and whistled , but it was of no use , and I grew very much alarmed at the idea that my treasure had deserted me . `` It could not be because I threw the pieces of rock at him , '' thought I ; `` he would not leave me for that . ''