noon
Though they were more sheltered than at any time since beginning their journey , -- for the cave made a fine place to camp in , -- their sleep was disturbed by a haunting vision of disappointment . Suppose there should be no gold after all ? They resumed the digging soon after breakfast . By noon they had covered nearly the entire floor of the cavern . Fred was using his pick in one corner of the cave . Of the third assigned to him , not more than a square yard remained . The others had about the same still to explore , and , up to now , there had not been the slightest indication of the buried wealth .