noon
Snook eroun ' the ponds efter dark . Ef they see a deer 'n the water they wallop ` im quicker 'n lightnin ' ; jump right in k ` slap 'n' tek ` im . '' We were off at sunrise , on a road that grew rougher every mile . At noon we came to a river so swollen as to make a dangerous ford . After dinner my father waded in , going hips under where the water was deep and swift . Then he cut a long pole and took my mother on his shoulders and entered the broad stream , steadying himself with the pole . When she had got down safe on the other side , he came back for grandmother and my sisters , and took them over in the same way .