noon
Pork and beans , bread and tea , these were the staple items . Anything else was regarded as an `` extra . '' A rather monotonous diet , undoubtedly ; but it would not be easy to prescribe a better one for men working twelve hours a day , in the open air , through the still , steady cold of a Canadian winter in the backwoods . At noon the hungry toilers trooped back for dinner , which they devoured in ravenous haste that there might be as much as possible left of the hour for a lounge upon the bunk , with pipe in mouth , in luxurious idleness . Then as the dusk gathered they appeared once more , this time for the night , and disposed to eat their supper with much more decorous slowness . Supper over , the snow-soaked mittens and stockings hung about the fire to dry , and pipes put in full blast , they were ready for song , story , or dance , until bed time . Thus day followed day , until Frank , whose work kept him closely confined to the camp , grew so weary of it that he was on the verge of heartily repenting that he had ever consented to be a chore-boy , ever thought that was the only condition upon which he could gratify his longing for a lumberman 's life , when another mischance became his good fortune , and he was unexpectedly relieved of a large part of his tiresome duties .