noon
`` You go look for yourself , Sir Engineer , '' he shouted ; `` on the kettle , in the table all about and you see whatta I feed to those beasts when I try to satisfy . '' The men retorted in shrill chorus leaping about and gesticulating till their joints snapped . Parker resolutely pushed through the throng without trying to understand what they were saying to him and slammed the door in the faces of the few who attempted to crowd in with him . Those who anxiously peered through the windows saw him examine the food set out on the table for the noon meal , lift the covers from the stew pans on the rusty stove and then pass into the little building behind the main camp . The great stone ovens for the bread-baking were located there . When at last he came out he faced them with grim visage , squared the shoulders that had borne many a football assault and called to Dominick . `` Go inside , '' he said , `` and coax those two helpers of yours out of those ovens .