noon
The Boy saw that Mac and Potts knew . For the first time the Big Chimney men felt a barrier between them and that one who had been the common bond , keeping the incongruous allied and friendly . Only Nig ran in and out , unchilled by the imminence of the Colonel 's withdrawal from his kind . Towards noon the O'Flynns came up the creek , and were stopped near the tent by the others . They all stood talking low till a noise of scuffling broke the silence within . They drew nearer , and heard the Colonel telling Maudie not to turn out Nig and Kaviak . `` I like seein ' my friends .