about noon
Cur ` us how quick buffalo an ' deer an ' antelope learn about these things . '' They slept the night through on the open prairie , keeping watch by turns . The weather was cold , but they had their good blankets with them and they took no discomfort . They rode forward again early in the morning , and about noon struck an old but broad trail . It was evident that many men and many wagons had passed here . There were deep ruts in the earth , cut by wheels , and the traces of footsteps showed over a belt a quarter of a mile wide . `` Well , Ned , I s ` pose you can make a purty good guess what this means ? ''