noon
They were moving on again at a rapid canter , and Smallbones was riding at his side . The little man , like the rest , was armed liberally . But whereas the others were , for the most part , content with two guns , he had four . It would not be for lack of desire on his part if somebody did not die before noon . `` We could n't help startin ' late , '' grumbled the little man . `` An ' as fer that kid , I 'd sure ` a ' kep ' him with us . Who 's to say he ai n't handed us a fool game ?