noon
All day as he drove up the interminable slopes and down again , the mountains kept company with him , as friends might . So much so that he caught himself , more than once after moments of absorption , glancing up at them with hasty penitence . He had forgotten them , but unoffended they had been watching and waiting for him . A little after noon Shock found the trail turn in toward a long , log , low-roofed building , which seemed to have been erected in sections , with an irregular group of sod-roofed out-houses clustering about . An old man lounged against the jamb of the open door . `` Good day , '' said Shock politely . The old man looked him over for a moment or two and then answered as if making a concession of some importance , `` Good day , good day !