noon
The sun soon shone warm and glorious , a little too glorious in fact , for it was very hot after 9 o'clock when the trail was again taken up . Daylight did not make the `` signs '' any more plain -- in fact , there was absolutely no trail to follow . All they could do was to keep on , making inquiries here and there at different ranches about suspicious characters . `` We have n't seen any signs of the professor 's party , '' remarked Nort , when they stopped at noon for a `` snack . '' `` No , I fancy they 're off in the other direction , '' remarked Bud . `` They will probably be at the ranch when we get back . '' `` Speaking of getting back , I do n't see much use in keeping on , '' commented Billee .