noon
A fine rain fell during the night . It began falling during the twilight of evening , gathering in force as the hours passed , and only ceased near the middle of the following forenoon . The creek filled to its banks , the field and garden freshened in a day , and the new ranch threw off the blight of summer drouth . `` This will bring the herds , '' said Forrest , as the sun burst forth at noon . `` It 's a general rain , and every one in Dodge , now that water is sure , will pull out for the Platte River . It will cool the weather and freshen the grass , and every drover with herds on the trail will push forward for Ogalalla . We 'll have to patrol the crossing on the Beaver , as the rain will lay the dust for a week and rob us of our signal . ''