noon
The weather prophets said it was the equinoctial , although it was ten days too early if the almanac was right ; and every one predicted a storm , a northeaster that would set all the streams boiling , and probably carry away all the bridges between Lowton and the Summit . But little for northeasters cared Leon and Sam Bearer , as they settled themselves cosily inside . They each carried a shot-gun , and under the care of their elder brother , Herbert , they were going on a two weeks ' hunt among the well stocked forests on the mountains back of the Summit . At noon they stopped at the Half-Way House , a little hotel built just at the rise of the mountain , where they were served with fresh venison in a dining-room hung with great antlers from the deer killed by the landlord , and his son , who was only fourteen years old -- no older than Sam . The boys became very much excited listening to their hunting stories ; and after dinner nothing but Herbert 's decided command prevented their loading the guns to be ready for any game they might see on the road . The landlord and the driver said that they never saw any deer driving along the road ; but the boys thought it might be that they would , and after they started a strict watch was kept , which resulted in seeing forty-one squirrels but nothing larger . They had not driven many miles up the mountain before it cleared off , and the sun came out .