noon
`` They deserve to suffer . '' `` Bill Harney is a good enough guide to know what to do , '' put in John Barrow . `` He will pull them through somehow -- that is , if he knows enough to remain sober . '' They had hoped that the storm would let up by noon , but twelve o'clock found the snow coming down as fast as ever , blotting out the landscape on every hand . Outside of the moaning of the wind all was as silent as a tomb . There was but a little for the boys to do , and after the fishing was over they were glad enough to take it easy in the shelter and listen to several stories John Barrow had to tell . The guide also related what he knew concerning Goupert and the various hunts made for the missing treasure .