noon
Five minutes before noon Sylvia Wharton came running breathless with excitement from her sentry post . Dust was rising at some distance off in the curve of the lane where a path led across the fields to Sunrise Camp . Harder and faster the girls continued at their work , of course appearing superbly unconscious of possible interruption and yet ten minutes later , when Edith Norton returned from the village on her bicycle along the way of Sylvia 's warning , there was a sort of general let-down feeling though no one confessed to it . Then half an hour passed , noon was in the background of the day and hunger was laying fierce hold on the camp members . Their practice of knot tying abruptly ceased , Eleanor put her book and paints aside with a sense of relief , Mollie and Esther arose sighing . `` We have got to have our own lunch , girls , we simply ca n't wait any longer , '' Miss McMurtry insisted , and no one seemed sufficiently inspirited to discuss the question , when unexpectedly a cry from Meg brought everybody to life . Little Brother had disappeared !