noon
Perhaps I am , after the mistake I made about my own nephew . '' Fred soon found a spot where both of them could hide , and yet be very close to the big tree ; indeed , a few steps would carry them alongside when the time came for action . Then they settled down to wait . After a time the sound of bells told that noon had come . A few minutes later , and Fred touched the arm of his companion . `` That 's Gabe coming now , '' he remarked . And the trembling old maid could distinctly hear a very boisterous whistle that kept getting louder and louder as the butcher 's boy strode jauntily along the path , heading in their direction .