noon
`` Forgive me ! For what ? '' Neale muttered , dazed and troubled . He dropped his sledge and remained standing there , though the noon whistle called the gang to dinner . Looking out across the hot , smoky , arid desert he saw again that scene where he had appealed to Allison Lee . The picture was etched out vividly , and again he lived through those big moments of emotion . The room full of men -- Lee 's cold acceptance of fact , his thanks , his offer , his questions , his refusal -- General Lodge 's earnest solicitation -- the rapid exchange of passionate words between them -- the query put to Neale and his answer -- the sudden appearance of Allie , shocking his heart with rapture -- her sweet , wild words -- and so the end !