noon
A moment longer he looked down , then passed his hands across his eyes and seemed to brush away the memories that thronged him . He stepped forward to the fire and warmed his hands . `` We 'll go on , Mac , to the rendezvous he had appointed with his outfit . We ought to reach there by noon , and the boys can send a wagon back to get the bodies . '' It had been six days since the two Ned Bannisters had ridden away together into the mountains , and every waking hour since that time had been for Helen one of harassing anxiety . No word had yet reached her of the issue of that dubious undertaking , and she both longed and dreaded to hear . He had promised to send a messenger as soon as he had anything definite to tell , but she knew it would be like his cousin , too , to send her some triumphant word should he prove the victor in the struggle between them .