noon
Then Hazel got a rope , and tied one end round his own waist , and one round Ponto 's neck , and , at every outbreak of civilization , jerked him sharply on to his back . The effect of this discipline was rapid ; Ponto soon found that he must not make war on the inhabitants of the island . He was a docile animal , and in a very short time consented to make one of `` the happy family , '' as Hazel called the miscellaneous crew that beset him . Helen and Hazel did not meet till past noon ; and when they did meet it was plain she had been thinking a great deal , for her greeting was so shy and restrained as to appear cold and distant to Hazel . He thought to himself , I was too happy yesterday , and she too kind . Of course it could not last . This change in her seemed to grow , rather than diminish .