About noon
You can hold your rifle ready , lad , but you 'll have no use for it for a good quarter of an hour . They 'll do a lot of scouting before they try to pass the ravine , but our fellows are happy in the knowledge that they 'll try to pass it . '' Robert suppressed as much as he could the excitement one was bound to feel at such a time , and ate a little venison to stay him for the combat , imitating the coolness and providence of Tayoga , who was also strengthening his body for the ordeal . `` About noon , is n't it ? '' he asked of the Onondaga . `` A little after it , '' Tayoga replied . `` When did they come up ? ''