noon
grinned Tommy . `` Starved to death ! '' answered Sandy . `` We 've been treed by bears , and dumped down on the back of a great beast about nine feet long , and had our fish devoured , and there 's been nothing doing in the eating line since noon ! '' `` Never you mind the hardships of life ! '' grinned Will . `` We 've got great news for you , so get ready to shout ! ''