noon
This seemed to be the feeling of both the others , and they were not talkative at the breakfast-table , where O'Brien had supplied them with a fine meal , including abundance of fresh-laid eggs from his own farm-yard . After breakfast they employed themselves chiefly in making themselves as tidy as they could and in packing their few personal possessions in shape for railway transportation . Most of their outfit , however , they gave away to the men who were to remain behind them . Toward noon the whistle of the steamboat announced that she was ready to take up her down-stream trip ; so the young Alaskans were obliged to say good-by to O'Brien , in whose heart they had found a warm place . `` Good luck to ye , byes , '' said he , `` and do n't be diggin ' all the gold up in Alaska , for 't is myself 'll be seein ' ye wan of these days -- 't is a foine country entirely , and I 'm wishin ' fer a change . '' Leo and George , without any instructions , had turned in to help the boat crew in their work of pushing off . Moise , once aboard the boat , seemed unusually silent and thoughtful for him , until Rob rallied him as to his sorrowful countenance .