noon
But he did not intend to sleep aboard the RED STREAK , which , being a racing boat , was not large enough to afford much room for passengers . Tom had planned , therefore , to put up at some hotel near the lake in case his hunt should last beyond one night . That it would do this was almost certain , for all that morning he searched unavailingly for the ARROW . A distant mill whistle sounding over Lake Carlopa told him it was noon . `` Dinner time , '' he announced to himself . `` Guess I 'll run up along shore in the shade and eat . '' Selecting a place where the trees overhung the water , forming a quiet , cool nook , Tom sent the boat in there , and , tying it to a leaning tree , he began his simple meal .