noon
But not for long . The man led him across the ledge to a tiny stream trickling down the rocks , walking with a quiet dignity he long since had learned to connect with kindliness . This and the fact that he led him to water determined his attitude . Toward noon , as he was brooding over hunger pangs , he was startled by excited gutturals among the men . Gazing , he saw one of the men standing on the edge of the shelf , pointing out through the long canyon . With the others , Pat turned his eyes that way . Between the distant V dotting the mesa beyond rode a body of horsemen .