noon
His hands and legs , and even his face , were criss-crossed with many brier scratches . The sun beat down on him unmercifully , but he stuck to his task so closely that he seemed to see berries even when his eyes were shut . Every day great pailfuls of the shining black beads were sent over to Rosehaven , and every night he dropped a few more nickels into the stocking foot hidden under his pillow . `` Berries is all mighty nigh cleaned out , '' he said one noon , when he was about to start out again after dinner . `` Uncle Billy says there 's lots of 'em down in the gandah thicket , but I ` se mos ' afeered to go there . '' `` Nothin ' wo n't tech you in daylight , honey , '' answered Mammy , encouragingly , `` but I would n't go through there at night for love or money I 'd as lief go into a lion 's cage . '' `` Did you ever see any ghos ` es down there Mammy ? ''