noon
`` We know something of that , '' answered Dick . `` We liked our trip out West , though , '' he added . Toward the middle of the afternoon they reached the first stunted growth of timber growing at the base of the hills toward which they had been journeying . At noon , as it was so hot , they had not stopped for lunch , and now they proceeded to make themselves comfortable on a patch of thick grass . Even Wags was willing to lie down and stretch out . The dog acted as if he had been a member of the party since starting from home . `` Are you going to blame me for going wrong ? ''