noon
We refused , for he was too useful to us . He begged again and again to be sent with the letter , promising faithfully to wait for us afterward on the British side of the border at any place we should name . But we upbraided him for cowardice , ordered him to find another messenger , and promised him he need have no fear of Germans as long as he remained our servant . Before high noon we would each have given many years of Kazimoto 's pay if only we could have recalled that decision and have known that he was speeding away from Muanza toward a border where white men knew the use of mercy . Just as the first peep of dawn began to color the sky Schubert came swaggering down-street to us , wiping his mouth with the back of his hand . `` How have you slept ? '' he asked us , laughing .