noon
Not a roof , not a chimney , was in sight ; the valley was deserted . Here was a fertile farming country -- and yet no living thing , no sound of bells , no voices , no crowing cocks , no lowing cattle . It was depressing to O'Reilly , and more , for there was something menacing and threatening about it all . Toward noon the breeze lessened and it became insufferably hot . A bank of clouds in the east promised a cooling shower , so Johnnie sought the nearest shade to wait for it , and took advantage of the delay to eat his slender lunch . He was meditatively munching a sweet-potato when a sound at his back caused him to leap to his feet in alarm . He whirled , then uttered an exclamation of amazement .