noon
But so unreal and seemingly impossible was the sight witnessed by the learned astronomers that they have never ventured to make the incident public , although long after the boy had darted away into the east they argued together concerning the marvelous and incomprehensible vision . Afterward they secretly engrossed the circumstance upon their records , but resolved never to mention it in public , lest their wisdom and veracity should be assailed by the skeptical . Meantime Rob rose to a higher altitude , and sped swiftly across the great continent . By noon he sighted Chicago , and after a brief inspection of the place from the air determined to devote at least an hour to forming the acquaintance of this most wonderful and cosmopolitan city . 18 . A Narrow Escape The Auditorium Tower , where `` the weather man '' sits to flash his reports throughout the country , offered an inviting place for the boy to alight . He dropped quietly upon the roof of the great building and walked down the staircase until he reached the elevators , by means of which he descended to the ground floor without exciting special attention .