noon
I obtained no glimpse of these , however , although one of the negroes informed me that there were several army officers on board . The possibility that some of these might recognize me was not a pleasant thought . I saw nothing of the captain , but heard him shouting orders to the men engaged tinkering at the paddle-wheel . The overseer gave me a hat which added little to my personal appearance , and by the time we were called to knock off for the noon meal , I was thoroughly tired , and disgusted , feeling as much a roustabout as I certainly looked . The meal was served on an unplaned plank , the ends resting on kegs in front of the boilers . The unwashed gang simply helped themselves , and then retired to any convenient spot where they chose to eat . I discovered a fairly comfortable seat on a cracker box , and was still busily munching away on the coarse , poorly-cooked food , when Mapes , prowling about , chanced to spy me among the shadows .