noon
They had not gone far until it was plain that his companion was not looking for work , but for adventure . Austin wished he had not fallen into such company . However , after the kindness the boy had shown him he could not turn from him coldly . At noon the hoys stopped at a farmhouse for dinner . They were not posing as tramps , but offered to pay for their meal . The family with whom they stopped was a lively , jolly one , and the glimpse of home-life Austin got made his heart ache . He longed to tell the kind man all his troubles but had no opportunity , for his companion led all the conversation telling the farmer and his boys a long and brilliant tale of his travels .