noon
Then , too , there were not a few in the tribe who professed to think that the hordes of the Bow-legs were never likely to come that way again . No wonder , therefore , that there was grumbling , and protest , and shrill lamentation in the caves ; but Bawr being in no mood , since the defection of Mawg and his party , to tolerate any opposition , and Grôm being now regarded as a dangerous wizard , the preparation for departure went on as smoothly as if all were of one mind . Packing was no great matter to the People of the Little Hills , the richest of whom could transport all his wealth on the back of the feeblest of his wives . So it came that before the sun marked noon the whole tribe was on the march , trailing forth from the neck of the amphitheater at the heels of Grôm and A-ya , and picking their way over the bones of their slain enemies which the vultures and the jackals had already polished white . Bawr , the Chief , came last , seeing to it that there were no laggards ; and as the tail of the straggling procession left the pass he climbed swiftly to the nearest pinnacle of rock to take observation . He marked Grôm and the girl , the tribe strung out dejectedly behind them , winding off to the left along the foot of the bare hills ; and a pang of grief , for an instant , twitched his massive features . Then he turned his eyes to the right .