noon
said Shorty . `` Pears like ye waked up the wrong passenger that time ! '' Si laughed with the rest , rubbed salt on his stings , and plodded on , consoling himself with the thought that his was not the only case in which the merit of earnest effort had gone unrewarded . Soon after noon the 200th came to a large patch of sweet potatoes . Si and Shorty , as well as a good many of the rest , thought it would be a good place to lay in a supply for supper , as they might not have another So good a chance . From all parts of the column the men , by dozens dashed into the field . In a moment there was a man at every hill , digging away with his bayonet , and chucking the tempting tubers into his haversack .