an hour after noon
Tom continued to keep on his guard as they pressed onward . Every one was alive to the necessity of finding the cabin of the old naturalist as soon as possible . Farms were so rare up here that they found they could not count on getting their supplies from such places ; and the possibility of going hungry was not a pleasant prospect . After all it was an hour after noon when Tom announced the fact that the several land marks which had been given to him were in conjunction . `` The cabin must be around here somewheres , '' he said , positively . Hardly had he spoken when Josh was noticed to be sniffing the air in a suspicious fashion . `` What is it , Josh ? ''