midday
He was deeply excited , for he had taken a tremendous risk in springing upon a creature that can strike its crooked fangs through the thick leather of a boot , as a New York physician once learned at the cost of his life , when he carelessly sought to rouse with his foot a caged reptile of this kind . Miss Hargrove had ceased to be a charming summer acquaintance to Burt . She was the woman at whose side he had stood in the presence of death . Before their midday repast was ready a rumble of wagons was heard coming up the mountain , and Webb soon appeared . `` The barometer is falling rapidly , '' he said , `` and father agrees with me that it will be safer for you all to return at once . '' He found ready acquiescence , for after the event of the morning the ladies were in haste to depart . Lumley , who had come up with Webb , was sent to take the rattles from the snake , and the men drew apart , with Alf and Fred , to discuss the adventure , for it was tacitly agreed that it would be unwise to talk about snakes to those whose nerves were already unstrung at the thought of such fearful neighbors .