noon
`` We 're all right now . Let 's make a long push today . '' The colonel showed no disposition to detain them , and it was not until they had been on their southward march for an hour that he wheeled his glittering column in the same direction . Captain Skinner and his men knew nothing about that , and when noon came they found a capital camping-place , precisely as it had been described to them . A beautiful spot it was , with groves of shady trees and a fine spring of water , and there was more than one drove of long-horned cattle in sight . `` Somebody or other 's careless about his critters , '' remarked one of the miners ; but the Captain 's face was sober . `` It looks too much as if they 'd been driven up this way to feed the cavalry on .