noon
`` That 's an awkward piece of work finished , and I feel happier now ! You can put out the lamp and quit , boys ; I 'll mark you up full time . '' Then they got down from the frame and went home to supper , earlier than usual . In the morning they began to build a wall of roughly-cut stones among the timber , filling in the space behind with rubble ; and kept on until at noon , a day or two later , heavy snow began to fall . It was impossible to work , and they lounged about the shack , smoking and reading , all next day . Charnock was thankful for the rest , but Festing grumbled and now and then walked impatiently to the door . Late at night the former was wakened by a distant rumbling .