midnight
It was very still and very lonely and he was hungry -- hungrier and lonelier than he had ever been in his life , and a sob of helplessness rose to his lips -- if he only had Jack -- but he held it back . `` I got to ack like a man now . '' And , saying this over and over to himself , he went to sleep . Rain fell that night -- gentle rain and warm , for the south wind rose at midnight . At four o clock a shower made the shingles over Chad rattle sharply , but without wakening the lad , and then the rain ceased ; and when Chad climbed stiffly from his loft -- the world was drenched and still , and the dawn was warm , for spring had come that morning , and Chad trudged along the road -- unchilled . Every now and then he had to stop to rest his foot . Now and then he would see people getting breakfast ready in the farm-houses that he passed , and , though his little belly was drawn with pain , he would not stop and ask for something to eat -- for he did not want to risk another rebuff .