noon
And oh , the smile of him ! A man of sterner stuff than Happy Jack would have fallen before such guile and would have labored willingly -- nay , gladly in the service of so delightful a diplomat as Jakie . Except for that willing service , Jakie would have been quite overwhelmed by the many and peculiar duties of a roundup cook . He would have been perfectly helpess before the morning and noon packing of dishes and food , and the skilful haste necessary to unpack and prepare a meal for fifteen ravenous appetites within the time limit would have been utterly impossible . Jakie was a chef , trained to his profession in well-appointed kitchens and with assistance always at hand ; which is a trade apart from cooking for a roundup crew . Happy Jack , in the fulness of time , returned with the eggs . That is , he returned with six eggs and a quart or two of a yellowish mixture thickly powdered with shell .