4:00 A.M.
Zack Stewart stared sleepily into the bottom of his cracked coffee cup as his wife began to gather the breakfast dishes . Mrs. Stewart was a huge , methodical woman , seasoned to the drudgery of a farm wife . Quite methodically she 'd arise every morning at 4:00 A.M. with her husband and each would do their respective chores until long after the sun had set on their forty-acre farm . `` You 've jest got to find Junius today , Zack , '' Mrs. Stewart spoke worriedly , `` Lord only knows her condition , not being milked since yesterday morning . '' `` Yeah , I know , Ma , '' Zack said wearily as he rose from the table , `` I 'll search for her again in the north woods , but if she ai n't there this time , I give up . '' A dog suddenly howled outside .