noon
`` Ned and I overheard what he said and wondered what a burster was . We said nothing , however , as we expected to find out by practical experience . `` All through the forenoon the barometer continued to fall . The sky remained clear until a little past noon , and the wind blew gently from the northeast as before . Suddenly we saw a white cloud rolling up from the northeast and spreading over the heavens until they were completely covered . Masses of dust came with the wind , which increased in force for a time and then lulled a little . `` Suddenly the wind went around to the south and blew a gale , yes , a hurricane .