noon
Shortly afterwards the party was in the saddle , setting out for their forty-mile ride in high spirits . They hoped to reach their destination early on the following morning . Some of the way was dusty and hot , though the greater part of it was shaded by the giant pines . They caught up with the pack train shortly before noon , as Nance had said they would . A halt was made and a real meal cooked while the mustangs were watered and permitted to graze at the ends of their ropes . The meal being finished , saddle bags were stocked as the party would not see the pack train again until some time on the following day . Then the journey was resumed again .