noon
`` How about the load ? '' `` Carry the same load as before . You were n't any more than keeping up . '' Five minutes after the noon whistle blew , on Saturday , every carpenter and laborer knew that Bannon had `` pulled a gun '' on Reilly . Those who heard it last heard more than that , for when the story had passed through a few hands it was bigger and it took longer to tell . And every man , during the afternoon , kept his eyes more closely on his work . Some were angry , but these dropped from muttering into sullenness ; the majority were relieved , for a good workman is surer of himself under a firm than under a slack hand ; but all were cowed .