noon
Ned 's reasoning -- and especially his intimation of a plan to escape -- put the boys in a more cheerful mood . They were all thoroughly exhausted for want of sleep , but that was of little consequence compared with the pangs of hunger and thirst they were enduring . They had eaten nothing since the previous evening , nor had a drop of water touched their lips . And it was now past noon . It was aggravating , nay , maddening , to know that their store of provisions was so close . Well they realized the futility of appealing to their merciless captor . He had said they should have no food , and they knew he meant it .