Before dinnertime, Uncle Jeb called some of us to move the mess boards into the pavilion, because it was beginning to blow from the east and the awnings and thatch roofs over the mess boards didn't keep the rain off, because it blew sideways.

As the Texas darky said: "Dinnertime fur some folks; but just twelve o'clock fur me!"

It was in the hour before dinner, and the regulations of the family were very severe about being at meals, and unfortunately I had, in my glee at having a job of paying work to do, infringed on the dinnertime.

"Up you go, Zip, it's dinnertime."

It's almost dinnertime and the crew will be coming up for a meal in about half an hour.

Dinnertime being come, all the white hunters returned to their tent.