noon
He had asked the question at first quite sanely , but as the night wore on and the fever grew and his mind wandered , he would repeat the question over and over like a child , and over and over , while Bub and Dave slept and the rain poured , June would repeat her answer : `` I 'll never leave you , Dad . '' Before dawn Hale and the doctor and the old miller had reached the Pine , and there Hale stopped . Any farther , the old man told him , he would go only at the risk of his life from Dave or Bub , or even from any Falin who happened to be hanging around in the bushes , for Hale was hated equally by both factions now . `` I 'll wait up here until noon , Uncle Billy , '' said Hale . `` Ask her , for God 's sake , to come up here and see me . '' `` All right . I 'll axe her , but -- '' the old miller shook his head .