noon
It was the voice of the great wolves , but they and the bears had been defeated so often that he did not fear them . He swung the magnificent bow jauntily and was more than willing to put it to deadly use . As the bird flies , the valley might have had a length of twenty miles , but following its curves it was nearer forty , and as the three had no reason for haste they took their time , traveling over the river bed , because it was free from obstruction . At noon they ate pemmican , and , after a rest of a half hour , pushed on again . The valley at this point was not more than two miles wide , and Pehansan had his eyes set on a deep gorge to the left , where the cedars and pines sheltered from the winds seemed to have grown to an uncommon size . `` May find elk in here , where snow is not deep . Best place to look .