noon
`` And Ned Rector got all there was of them , '' added Walter . Laughing and joking , the lads mounted their ponies and set off for a day 's pleasure . The entertainment at the ranch was scheduled for the afternoon , so they had plenty of time in which to make the journey . They arrived shortly before noon , just in time to see the preparations made for a barbecue . A large Texas steer had been chosen for the occasion and roasted in a pit , and they were making ready to serve it . Stacy 's eyes stuck out as he saw the cook with a knife almost as long as a sword , cutting off slices as large as a good-sized platter , and serving them on plates scarcely large enough to hold the pieces , without the latter being folded over . The fat boy managed to get an early helping by pushing his way through the crowd of hungry men that had gathered about the savory roast .