midday
Although none of the settlers present seemed disposed to attribute the extraordinary physical powers , which Gaut Gurley had so unmistakably shown , to any supernatural agency , as the trapper , Codman , whose other singularities were not without a smart sprinkling of superstition , was obviously inclining to do , yet those powers were especially calculated , as may well be supposed of men of their class , to make a strong impression on the minds of them all , and invest the possessor with an importance which , in their eyes , he could in no other way obtain . Accordingly he soon came to be looked upon as the lion of the day , and suddenly thus acquired , for the time being , as he doubtless shrewdly calculated he could do in this way , a consequence and influence of which no other man could boast , perhaps , in the whole settlement . Meanwhile the work of clearing off the logs was prosecuted with increasing spirit and resolution . And so eagerly intent had all the hands become , in pressing forward to its completion their self-imposed task , which all could see was now fast drawing to a close , that they took no note of the flight of time , and were consequently taken by surprise when the sound of the horn summoned them to their midday meal . `` Why ! it ca n't yet be noon , '' exclaimed one , glancing up at the sun . `` No '' responded another .