noon
These things gave the loyal rooters for Riverport a terrible shock , and messengers were instantly dispatched to the homes of the two heroes to ascertain whether there could be any truth in the wild rumors . When they came back and reported that both Fred and Colon were in the pink of condition , and simply taking things easy so as not to tire themselves out before the time , the shouts that arose caused people to rush to their doors and windows , wondering if the race had been prematurely started . Still the crowds kept pouring into Riverport , until the streets became fairly congested with the throngs . Business , except for feeding this vast multitude , and selling them little flags and buttons , seemed to be absolutely suspended , so that many stores were shut up at noon , not to be opened again until the question of supremacy had been fully settled . Fred had not forgotten to get that forlorn rig back to the owners , and in so doing he had had occasion to make the acquaintance of the old couple . His father and mother drove up that very Sunday afternoon , and from what Fred heard them say after returning , he felt sure that things were going to improve very much with the Parsons . Mrs. Fenton expected to get a number of her friends interested in some fancy work she had examined , and there were numerous other ways by means of which the couple could be assisted without allowing them to feel that they were objects of charity to the community .