noon
`` Thank you a thousand times , Max , '' said the old cripple ; and somehow those four lads fancied that they had been repaid many times over for what they had done as they saw his wrinkled face lose its look of worry and taken on a smile of fresh hope and gratitude . It happened that Max did run across their hired man busily engaged in carrying some one 's furniture up the hill ; and he agreed to look after the cripple the very next thing . `` Be sure you make him ride with you , Conrad , '' was the last thing Max told the man , who faithfully promised to look after the little old storekeeper , and see that he got to a place of-safety . It was now getting along toward noon . No sun shone above , indeed , they had seen nothing but a leaden sky for a number of days ; which of course added to the gloom that surrounded the unfortunate town , as well as the farms and hamlets strung along the valley through which the Evergreen River flowed . `` Get together again after we 've had some lunch ! '' Steve told his three mates , as they started for their respective homes -- rather reluctantly ; because so many exciting things seemed to be happening every half hour that none of them wanted to miss any more than they could help .