noon
That 's all I know about it , lad , so good-bye to yez both , fer I must be off . I 'm to stay the night at Tommy Jones ' , an ' in the mornin ' will go from there fer the cow . Bizness an ' fun , Steve ; bizness an ' fun ; do n't fergit that , '' and the little old man went off chuckling in high glee . Guarding the Flock It was nearing the noon hour , and the sun slanting through the forest lifted into bold relief the trailing shadows of the stately trees . A lively chickadee was cheeping from a tall spruce , and a bold camp-robber was hopping in front of the cabin door picking up morsels of food which were occasionally cast forth . Stephen was preparing dinner , and the appetizing smell drifted out upon the air . Not far away , perched upon the branch of a tree , a sleek squirrel was filling the air with his noisy chattering and scolding .