twelve o'clock
The wild cry of a curlew came out of the dark and red-shanks were whistling in the distance . The water , so far as he could see , was still , and this meant the tide had not yet entered the channel . He thought he ought to have an hour before it did so , but the current would run fast then . Tides rise high when high-water comes at twelve o'clock with a full moon . After a few minutes he set off again . There was no need for him to lie down and he stood on deck , using the pole . It sank about a foot , but presently the water shoaled and when the punt touched bottom he got over and dragged her by a line .