nearly noon
was asked by every one in a moment , as he came up . `` No ! but I found this , and this , about two miles down the stream , '' said he , holding up a fading wreath of wild flowers , and the skeleton of a fish that Edward had evidently cut away to bait his hook with . `` It is now nearly noon , and by the looks of that fish and those flowers , they have laid in the sun three hours . Give us a lunch , Mary , and now for the dogs , Lewis . No time is to be lost , '' said Howe . `` I fear the worst , '' said the father ; `` I saw signs of Indians . ''