before noon

It sufficed, however, to waft them into a little cove making into one of these islands at about two hours before noon.

An hour before noon one of the point men gave a shrill whistle, and the whole column of beeves turned aside and began feeding.

But, when he rose, in the last quarter before noon, his face was white.

One after another the search parties returned—the last one arriving an hour before noon—and all had the same story to tell.

But it was still a good hour before noon when the Hare suddenly jumped up and stole out of the combe.