noon
So Hugh , staring quickly , made out the object indicated by his companion . Really , he could hardly blame Thad for asking such a question , because at first it was next to impossible to determine whether it was a four-footed creature , or a human being who , for some good reason , was trying to make himself appear as small as possible . But as Hugh continued to look he saw the other raise himself to his full height , as though to take a cautious survey of his surroundings . Then he knew that it was no canine prowling around to discover scraps thrown aside by the carpenters working on the board fence , as they ate their noon lunch . `` It 's a human being all right , Thad , '' Hugh whispered , in such a low tone that even the sharpest pair of ears going could never have caught the sound ten feet away . `` Man , or boy , Hugh ? '' asked Thad , copying the example set by the other , and even bending his head so that his lips might come closer to Hugh 's right ear .