noon
All right , Nelson ; I 'll wait until six o'clock to hear from you . '' `` Thank you , Mr. Dunham . I 'll let you know one way or the other by that time , '' said Ralph . When the boy left the store he found it was already noon . He had a lunch with him , and , strolling down to the water 's edge , he sat on a little dock and ate it . He had just about finished when a rowboat came into view . There was a single occupant at the oars .