noon
The men near him looked askance at such unceasing labor . In time , the foreman blew a shrill note on a whistle and as though he had applied a brake connected with every man , the shovels dropped and the motley gang scrambled for their dinner pails . Donaldson for the first time then lifted his face to Arsdale . The seventh noon had come , and never had a midday been ushered in to such a sweet note as the foreman had blown on his penny whistle . Donaldson , picking up his coat , made his way to the side of Arsdale , who had risen to meet him with Sandy barking at his heels . `` I have only an hour , '' apologized Donaldson , `` I 'm afraid I 'm hardly in a condition to go into the house . '' `` You are n't coming back here ? ''