nearly noon
We shall have a battle . '' The news was quickly passed throughout the army , and eagerness began to show . The men wanted to be led on at once . It was nearly noon , and grass and foliage were dry again . There was not a cloud in the heavens , and the sun was a golden circle in a solid blue dome . `` Finest day for a fight I ever saw , '' said Tom Ross . Paul laughed but it was a nervous laugh , coming from high tension .