noon
demanded the other , looking expectant , as though he could give a pretty good guess himself , which was as much as saying that he had heard the same sound . `` Why , there must be some sort of mining going on not many miles away from here , '' argued Steve , `` because that was surely a blast I heard half an hour ago . First I had an idea it meant a coming storm , but there was n't a sign of a cloud in sight . It seemed to be a deep , heavy reverberation , just like I 've heard dynamite make at the red-sandstone quarry near Chester when the workmen at noon set off their blasts . Of course you noticed it , too , Jack ? '' `` Well , I should say so , '' the other admitted , `` and during the night both Toby and myself were awakened by just the same sort of far-off dull roaring sound . '' `` I must have been sound asleep then , because I never caught it , '' acknowledged the other , frankly ; `` but if you two boys talked it over , what conclusion did you arrive at , may I ask ? ''