noon
We 're after gold , we are . '' All the morning the two boys explored the Hollow . Many times they traced deceptive depressions in the earth 's surface which gave some intimation of having served at some time as a waterway , but never was there any reward for their efforts . At noon , hot and dusty , they made their way back to the camp . A great group of excited boys stood there gesticulating and shouting , and in the center of the group stood Matt Burton . `` What 's the excitement ? '' asked Apple of the first boy they reached .