noon
Sarah was up long before daybreak to get the breakfast ready . Often and often she went to the door of the hut , hoping to hear her young ones voices returning home . Joseph mounted his horse , and went off in one direction , Tom in another , and Sam in another . They were to return at noon . Old Mat and Ben had to look after the sheep . Poor Sarah and Sally worked away in and about the hut as hard as possible , but they could not help thinking and talking about the dear little ones , and what had become of them . Some time had passed , when Sally cried out that she heard voices , and , running out , she saw three people on horseback cantering up to the hut .