noon
Burke resembled a man taking his first sea-voyage . His eyes searched the plain restlessly , and his brain dreamed . Bailey , an old settler -- of two years ' experience -- whistled and sang and shouted lustily to his tired beasts . It drew toward noon . Bailey 's clear voice shouted back , `` When we reach that swell we 'll see the Western Coteaux . '' The Western Coteaux ! To Burke , the man from Illinois , this was like discovering a new range of mountains .