noon before
`` Oh , there 's no joke at all -- yet , '' said Mr. Crow . And he and his companions all laughed again . `` Come around to the other side of the barn , '' Mr. Crow continued . `` It 's time for the stranger to screech , for it 'll be noon before you know it . '' So they all moved to another part of the fence , from which they could see the farmhouse . And no sooner had they settled themselves comfortably than Farmer Green 's wife came to the doorway and held a horn to her lips . Then came the loud blast that Jasper knew so well .