noon
For more than a year it had worn like iron , and it had more than an even chance of continuing to do so . Peter stripped off the shirt before a mob of squealing children , and the coolie scrutinized it . He accepted it , and blessed Peter , and Peter 's virtuous mother , and called upon his green-eyed gods to make the days of Peter long and filled with the rice of the land . With the coming of noon Peter sat down under a stunted cembra pine tree and contemplated the distant rocky blue ridge with a wistful and discouraged air . He removed from his trouser-pocket two yellow loquats and devoured them . He was dreadfully hungry . His stomach fathered a dull , persistent ache , which forced upon his attention the pains in his muscles and bones .