noon
demanded Harry eagerly . `` It runs a little more to eastward , from this point , I think , '' Tom made answer . `` But let us walk along , in three parallel lines , and see who finds the best indications . '' By noon all three were fairly tired out by the steep climbing over the rocky ground . Each had as many specimens as he could carry . The result of the exploration had tended to confirm Tom 's notion as to where the vein lay . `` Now , let 's see about where we 'd stake the claim , '' Tom proposed .