noon
`` That 's so -- I never thought of that ! '' Filled with the idea of taking some pictures that might prove of value , the boys hurried on through the woods and up the side of the mountain . Shep cautioned the others to move as silently as possible , so hardly a word was said . It was almost noon when they came to a flat spot , where there was something of a clearing . Here there was a spring and a pool , and a fallen tree lay across both . `` Wait ! '' whispered the doctor 's son .