noon
This they followed north a matter of three days . On the west the valley wall ran to a timbered ridge . Eastward the jagged peaks of a snow-capped mountain chain pierced the sky . Two hours from their noon camp on the fourth day in the valley Hazel sighted some moving objects in the distance , angling up on the timber-patched hillside . She watched them , at first uncertain whether they were moose , which they had frequently encountered , or domestic animals . Accustomed by now to gauging direction at a glance toward the sun , she observed that these objects traveled south . Presently , as the lines of their respective travel brought them nearer , she made them out to be men , mounted , and accompanied by packs .