noon
He saw that same look many times afterward in the eyes of these women of the riverbanks -- as the white troops moved past . There was not even a sex-interest to complicate their hatred . One day Thirteen overtook a big infantry column making a wide ford in the river before Bamban . It was high noon , but they found during the hold-up , a bit of shade and breeze on a commanding hill . Cairns and Bedient kicked off their shoes into the tall , moist grass , and luxuriously poked their feet into the coolness ; and presently they were watching unfold a really pretty bit of action . A thin glittering cloud of smoke across the river showed where the trenches of the natives were . The Americans in the river , held their rifles and ammunition-belts high , and wriggled their hips against the butting force of the stream .