noon
No great harm had been done , save to lose considerable gas , and this could be remedied . Tired and disappointed from the chase , they sought their bunks , and were soon asleep . In the morning Tom and Ned began work on the clogged pipes . This work was nearly accomplished by noon , when Mr. Damon , coming back from a stroll , announced that they were but fifteen minutes walk from the St. Lawrence River , as he had seen the sparkling waters from a neighboring hill . `` Let 's go over and have a look at it , '' proposed Ned . `` We can easily finish this when we get back . Besides , Tom , we do n't want to get to our regular camp until after dark , anyhow . ''