noon
But his rifle and ammunition belt rested beside him . The morning passed without any event , other than two or three times Sergeant Overton paused long enough in his reading to do some brief scouting past the camp . Nothing came of it , however . At noon Hal ate with Dietz and Johnson . `` The chuck is better back in camp , '' laughed the young sergeant . `` But I 've heard a gun half a dozen times this morning , and each time I 've been curious to know how the hunting luck is running . '' `` Nobody will beat the haul you made yesterday , Sarge , '' offered Private Dietz .