twelve o'clock
I sent a surgeon up to her , and got a redskin woman to go up to nurse her . I do n't wonder she did not like to sell Billy 's piece , seeing he was so famous with it , and I feel sure money would not do it ; but perhaps I can talk her into it . '' The next morning the articles agreed upon as the price of the horses were packed on Jerry 's pony , and they went out to the meeting-place . `` It is twenty minutes early , '' Jerry said , as Tom consulted his watch , `` and the red-skins wo n't be here till it is just twelve o'clock . A red-skin is never five minutes before or five minutes after the time he has named for a meeting . It may have been set six months before , and at a place a thousand miles away , but just at the hour , neither before nor after , he will be there . A white man will keep the appointment ; but like enough he will be there the night before , will make his camp , sleep , and cook a meal or two , but he does not look for the red-skin till exactly the hour named , whether it is sunrise or sunset or noon .