noon
Yet these thorny forms were beautiful . In the basins between the ridges , to right and left along the floor of low plains the mirage glistened , wavered , faded , vanished -- lakes and trees and clouds . Inverted mountains hung suspended in the lilac air and faint tracery of white-walled cities . At noon Yaqui halted the cavalcade . He had selected a field of bisnagi cactus for the place of rest . Presently his reason became obvious . With long , heavy knife he cut off the tops of these barrel-shaped plants .