noon
he asked in a whisper . `` Glad as I can be , '' replied Paul in the same whisper . Up shot the sun showering golden beams of light upon the forest . The air grew warmer , but the little band did not cease its rapid pace northward until noon . Then at a word from Ross all halted at a beautiful glade , across which ran a little brook of cold water . The horses were tethered at the edge of the forest , but were allowed to graze on the young grass which was already beginning to appear , while the men lighted a small fire of last year 's fallen brushwood , at the center of the glade on the bank of the brook . `` We wo n't build it high , '' said Ross , who was captain as well as guide , `` an ' then nobody in the forest can see it .