noon
Beyond them were swings and similar attractions where children in their hundreds thronged and clustered . In all directions flew flags and bunting , while the sharp reports of the shooting-gallery rifles were audible above the blare of the roundabouts ' steam organs . Ross pulled out his field glass , and , kneeling up in the deep bracken , focussed the crowds in turn . It was now past noon . From the lawn facing the house the strains of a Strauss valse , played by an excellent band , floated up to where we knelt , though the racket of the steam organs clashed with it to some extent . Slowly the time crept on . Longer and longer grew the approaching queue of cars .