noon
`` Esau Whalley 's farm ` happens next , ' and then old Uncle Rod King 's next , '' Old Tilly said calmly . `` I guess we better wait till we get out o ' this neck o ' woods before we settle down to making believe ! '' But three wheels driven by three pairs of sturdy , well-muscled legs get over miles swiftly , and by ten o'clock the boys had turned down an unfamiliar road and were on the way to things that happened . Before noon knightly deeds were at their hand . Jot himself discovered the first one . He vaulted from his bicycle suddenly , as they were bowling past a little gray house set in weeds , and the others , looking back , saw him carrying a dripping pail of water along the path to the kitchen doorsteps . `` The pail was out there on the well curb , asking to be filled , '' he explained brusquely , as he caught up with them , `` and the old woman pumping into it did n't look as if lugging water agreed with her .