noon
The parting words flung after him at the saloon came to his mind . `` Look out for us ! There 'll be an unholy mob on hand , and they 'll try to do you , sure . '' Peter cooked himself a noon meal , but he did not eat much of it . Instead , he sat quite still and stared with wide , blind eyes at the wavering mists of steam that arose from the various hot dishes . From time to time he got up with apparent purpose , which , however , left him before he had taken two steps , so that his movement speedily became aimless , and he sat down again . Late in the afternoon he went the rounds of his claims again , but saw nothing unusual .