about noon
The party for the lakes must be postponed ; that was evident . Neither would it go out under the guidance of Dandy Steve , nor would Mrs. Wingate go with it ; those two things were equally evident . Which facts , revolving slowly in Old Ben 's brain , led him to seat himself on the shore and abide the course of events . When , about noon , Mr. Cravath appeared , coming to look after their hastily abandoned effects , Old Ben touched his hat civilly , and said : `` Good-day , sir ; I thought maybe I 'd get this job o ' guidin ' now . Leastways , I 'd stay by yer truck here till somebody come to look it up . '' Old Ben was the guide of all others Mr. Cravath would have chosen , next to Dandy Steve . `` By Jove , Ben , '' he said , `` this is luck !