noon
It was Texas who , when they halted , poured the last of the water from the barrel into the canteen and carefully measured out to each a small portion . It was Texas now who gave the word to start again on their journey . And when the desert man placed the canteen with their meager supply of water in the corner of the wagon-box under his own feet the others understood and made no comment . At noon , when each was given his carefully measured portion from the canteen , Jefferson Worth , before they could check him , wet his handkerchief with his share of the water and gave it to the Seer to wipe the dust from the hot little face of the child . The eyes of the big engineer filled and Texas , with an oath that was more reverent than profane , poured another measure and forced the banker to drink . As the long , hot , thirsty hours of that afternoon dragged slowly past , the faces of the men grew worn and haggard . The two days and nights in the trying storm , the exertion of their search among the sand hills , the excitement of finding the woman 's body and the discovery of the child , followed by the long sleepless night , and now the hard , hot , dreary hours of the struggle with the Desert that seemed to gather all its dreadful strength against them , were beginning to tell .