midday
No sooner had they ridden out of sight of Captain Gerard and his men than he lapsed once more into his accustomed taciturnity . As they advanced the ground became rougher . Steadily it ascended toward the mountains , into which they filed through a narrow canon close to noon . By the side of a little rivulet Gernois called the midday halt . Here the men prepared and ate their frugal meal , and refilled their canteens . After an hour 's rest they advanced again along the canon , until they presently came to a little valley , from which several rocky gorges diverged . Here they halted , while Gernois minutely examined the surrounding heights from the center of the depression .