noon
The wagon , which was constructed before the first trip across the island , had been through some tough places , and the wheels and axles were in bad condition . These needed replacing , and that was a task which would occupy some time . One day , at the evening meal , the boys asked about Chief . He had not been noticed by anyone since noon . He was usually at work with Harry , who was asked concerning him . `` The last I saw of him was right after lunch , and he was going in the direction of the clay bank . As he was in the habit of going there quite frequently I paid no attention to him . ''